Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding section 11 of chapter 138 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the town of Natick may grant to restaurants with seating capacities of not less than 50 persons licenses for the sale of wines and malt beverages to be drunk on the premises; provided, however, that not more than 7 such licenses shall be in effect at any 1 time for restaurants with seating capacities of not less than 50 but not more than 99 persons. The licenses shall be subject to all of said chapter 138, except said section 11.

SECTION 2. The authority conferred by this act shall not increase the number of licenses authorized to be issued by the board of selectmen of the town of Natick for the sale of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding section 11 of chapter 138 of the General Laws, this act shall be submitted to the voters of the town of Natick at the next annual town election in the form of the following question which shall be placed on the official ballot to be used at such election.

"Shall an act passed by the general court in the year 2002 entitled, 'An Act authorizing the town of Natick to grant certain licenses for the sale of wines and malt beverages to be drunk on the premises', be accepted?" If a majority of the votes cast in answer to said question is in the affirmative, this act shall therefore take full effect in the town of Natick but not otherwise.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.