Massachusetts Court Tosses Town's Alcohol Ban At Strip Clubs

BOSTON (AP) — The highest court in Massachusetts has tossed out a bylaw banning alcohol at strip clubs in the town of Mendon.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Judicial Court said Mendon created a ban that is an overly broad restriction on free expression.

Showtime Entertainment LLC sought to open a strip club and serve alcohol, but the town denied the company's application after a group of residents cited studies concluding that the presence of alcohol at sex-oriented businesses increased the level of crime. The town also enacted a bylaw prohibiting alcohol at adult entertainment businesses.

Showtime sued in federal court and the issue was sent to the SJC by a federal appeals court.

The SJC said the town's ban is too broad and said Mendon must find a different way to pursue its goal of crime prevention.