Highland Tap of Boston, Inc. v. Commissioner of Consumer Affairs & Licensing

This case involves issues which have been in litigation since 1980. We begin by outlining the events that led to this appeal. The plaintiff Highland Tap of Boston, Inc. (Highland Tap), a tavern located on Washington Street in the Roxbury section of Boston, has held an entertainment license since the early 1970’s. It began to present nude dancing in September, 1979. In March of 1980, the licensing board of the city of Boston (board) held a hearing at which it asserted that the nude dancing violated G. L. c. 140, § 183A (as appearing in St. 1936, c. 71, § 1), the statute governing entertainment…