Maryland is one of only a handful of states that restrict beer and wine sales to liquor stores.

Each jurisdiction in Maryland – many of which would welcome new revenue, new jobs, and new stores – can regulate the time and location for beer and wine sales by approved sellers, but local districts are unable to grant licenses to chain stores. Maryland law protects the sole interests of liquor store owners, not Maryland consumers and localities.

Over 40 years ago, Maryland enacted a law that protected liquor stores from competition from chains by only awarding one license per person and restricting licenses so they can be awarded to Maryland residents only. A few dozen chain stores were grandfathered in, but this is confusing for consumers who just want to buy their alcohol anywhere in the state.
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Times have changed. Now shoppers can buy almost anything on the internet…but still can’t pick up a bottle of wine at the grocery store? That’s ridiculous.

MD Alcohol Choice commissioned an analysis study this year to determine the potential economic effects of allowing Marylanders to choose where to buy their alcohol. The study found that on average, consumers go to the grocery store at least once a week if not more – the state’s restrictions on beer and wine sales at these stores limit taxable sales, costing the state jobs and tax revenues. The economic analysis determined that allowing beer and wine to be sold in additional food retailers would increase overall sales in Maryland by $192.8 million, create 760 new jobs, and bring in $24.1 million in additional tax revenues.

Some people think that if we open beer and wine sales to grocery stores, local craft brewers and wineries will get squeezed out by larger distributors. This fear is unfounded. When it comes to the number of craft breweries per capita, eight of the top ten states allow grocery store sales of beer, and so do eight of the bottom ten states – clearly there is no correlation between grocery sales and local craft success.

Yes! Small businesses are a critical part of the state economy, and research shows that existing stores would only be marginally impacted by updating Maryland’s laws. Other states that have made similar changes in recent years have not seen a negative impact on smaller stores.

Fresh-food grocery stores operate at 1-3% profit margins – the lowest margins in the retail industry – and often struggle to make those economics work. Beer and wine sales can make a critical difference in this industry, and are often a deciding factor in determining locations for new stores and reducing food deserts. If we are interested in stabilizing our existing grocers and attracting new stores, the ability to sell alcohol is a game changer.

Absolutely! Polls show overwhelming support year after year, with support for the ability to buy beer and wine in grocery stores jumping from 63% in 2012 to 71% in 2018 and 73% in 2020. In Maryland’s rural jurisdictions, support soars to 76% approval. You can view the 2018 Mason Dixon poll here.