Maryland · MD · Food & drink
Maryland: Where can you buy liquor?
Private licensed stores
Maryland licenses private stores through local boards; the state does not sell liquor, though Montgomery County runs its own system.
Local licensing boards issue Class A package licenses to private stores under county-specific parts of state law. Montgomery County is the exception: its Alcohol Beverage Services handles most wholesale distribution and holds a monopoly on retail off-sale liquor there. A person generally cannot hold more than one Class A license.
What the law says
(a) There is a Class A beer, wine, and liquor license. (b) (1) The license authorizes the license holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor at retail at the place described in the license.
Sources
- Md. Code, Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis § 11-901 (Anne Arundel County) Official · mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Md. Code, Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis § 25-307 (Montgomery County) Official · mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Md. Code, Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis § 4-202 Official · mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Md. Code, Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis § 4-203 Official · mgaleg.maryland.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Maryland Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission
- Phone
- 443-300-6990
- Website
- atcc.maryland.gov
How bordering states compare
- Delaware Private licensed storesDelaware licenses private package stores to sell spirits, wine and beer; they buy from private importers, not the state.
- Pennsylvania Government-run storesPennsylvania sells bottled liquor in state-run Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores operated by the Liquor Control Board.
- Virginia Government-run storesVirginia sells liquor only in state-run Virginia ABC stores; private stores may sell beer and wine but not spirits.
- West Virginia State wholesale, private storesWest Virginia is the only liquor wholesaler, but privately owned licensed retail outlets sell liquor to the public.