Maryland's Sunday Beer Buying Laws Explained

Maryland has some unique laws regarding when and where you can buy alcohol. Beer is available on Sundays in Maryland, but the laws vary by county. While some counties restrict alcohol sales on Sundays, others shorten the hours permitted to sell it. In counties where beer sales are permitted on Sundays, the hours are typically between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., with local stores often having reduced hours. Baltimore and Prince George's counties are among those that do not allow beer and wine retail sales on Sundays.

Beer can be purchased in Maryland on Sundays from 8 am to 11 pm or 12 am

In Maryland, beer can be purchased on Sundays, but the specific times vary depending on the county. While some counties, such as Baltimore and Prince George's, do not allow retail alcohol sales on Sundays, others permit sales within certain time frames.

For counties that do allow beer sales on Sundays, the typical hours fall within the timeframe of 8:00 am to 11:00 pm, with some counties extending this to 12:00 am. However, local stores may have reduced hours for Sunday operations. It is always a good idea to check the hours of your local store before heading out to purchase beer on a Sunday.

In addition to county-specific regulations, the days and hours for purchasing beer in Maryland can also vary by the type of establishment. Privately owned retailers, bars, and restaurants are permitted to sell beer from 8:00 am to 2:00 am every day, although some may choose to close earlier. Package and liquor stores typically operate within these hours as well but may have different closing times depending on the county. Breweries and taprooms usually follow the same hours as bars and restaurants but may have earlier closing times due to county regulations.

It is important to note that grocery stores and gas stations in Maryland are not permitted to sell alcohol. The state has unique laws that restrict the sale of alcohol to freestanding stores, and most grocery stores are prohibited from selling alcohol due to a 1978 statewide ban. However, there are a handful of exceptions for certain chain stores that were grandfathered into the law.

Maryland has a variety of laws governing the sale of alcohol, and it is always a good idea to be aware of the specific regulations in your county before attempting to purchase beer on a Sunday.

Grocery stores in Maryland are prohibited from selling alcohol

Maryland has some unique laws regarding when and where you can buy alcohol, which are quite different from its neighbouring states. The state has a 1978 prohibition in place that bans grocery stores from selling alcohol.

The Prohibition

Maryland is one of only five states in the U.S. where it is not legal to buy beer, wine or liquor from anywhere other than a liquor or packaged goods store. This is due to a statewide prohibition that was implemented in 1978. At the time, some stores were already selling alcohol and were allowed to continue to do so. Today, about 30 grocery or convenience stores continue to sell beer and wine and, in some cases, liquor.

The Impact

The impact of this prohibition is that shoppers are inconvenienced by having to make a separate trip to a dedicated store to buy alcohol. It also means that the state is losing out on potential revenue.

The Debate

There is a growing movement to bring beer and wine to Maryland supermarket shelves. Advocates for allowing widespread sales have gained a powerful new ally in Gov. Wes Moore, who has said he will support the move. Moore has said that he has "heard literally in every single corner of the state...This is an issue that people are asking about."

Supporters point to surveys that show overwhelming support for allowing such sales, which would bring Maryland in line with laws in Virginia, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. They argue that, besides being convenient for consumers, the change would benefit the economy and generate employment and revenue for the state. It could also be a solution to food deserts.

However, opponents of expanded alcohol sales argue that it will further burden communities that already suffer from a disproportionate number of licensed alcohol retailers, and drive small "mom-and-pop" stores out of business. They also argue that it will bring more alcohol into communities that have already been negatively impacted by excessive alcohol consumption.

The Future

Despite the ongoing debate, there is optimism that 2025 will be the year that beer and wine become available in grocery stores in Maryland. A bill to allow sales is expected to be presented to Gov. Wes Moore by the end of the session.

Minors in Maryland can drink beer with their parents at home

In Maryland, the legal minimum age to drink alcohol is 21. However, Maryland law does allow for minors to drink alcohol in certain specific circumstances.

Maryland law prohibits the possession of alcohol by minors, with the following exception:

> Maryland's exception includes members of an individual's "immediate family" when the alcoholic beverage is furnished and possessed "in a private residence or within the curtilage of the residence."

Similarly, consumption of alcohol by minors is prohibited, except in the case of:

> Members of an individual's "immediate family" when the alcoholic beverage is furnished and consumed "in a private residence or within the curtilage of the residence."

The law defines "curtilage" as a space around an individual's house that they control. This typically includes front and back yards, but would not include a field on a farm that is 1/2 mile from the house.

The law also prohibits "furnishing" alcohol to minors, which means knowingly and willfully providing alcohol to someone under 21 for the purpose of their consumption. This is also prohibited, unless the minor in question is:

> Part of your immediate family, and in a private residence or the curtilage of a private residence.

Maryland's social host laws also make it a crime to host a party where alcohol is served to minors who are not part of your immediate family.

Maryland's alcohol laws can be confusing, and vary by county. For example, in some counties, alcohol can be purchased at grocery stores, but only if they are grandfathered-in with a license. In other counties, alcohol can only be purchased at free-standing stores.

In some counties, alcohol cannot be purchased on Sundays, and the hours of sale are restricted on other days. For example, in Anne Arundel County, licensees may sell alcohol on any day, but in Baltimore County, a licensee may only sell alcohol at a bar or counter on Sundays.

So, to answer the question, minors in Maryland can drink beer with their parents at home, as long as it is within a private residence or the curtilage of the residence.

Bars and restaurants in Maryland can sell beer from 8 am to 2 am

Maryland has unique laws regarding when and where alcohol can be purchased compared to its neighbouring states. For example, grocery stores and gas stations in Maryland are not permitted to sell alcohol. Additionally, most grocery stores are not allowed to sell alcohol due to a 1978 statewide prohibition, although a handful of chains are exempt.

Maryland has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the United States, but its sales times are relatively lenient. Alcohol sales times vary by county, so it's always a good idea to check the hours of operation before heading out to buy beer. While some counties may restrict Sunday sales, you can generally buy beer any day of the week in Maryland from 8 am to 2 am at licensed retailers, bars, or restaurants.

It's worth noting that minors in Maryland are allowed to drink beer with their parents in their homes, and the minimum drinking age in the state is 21. Maryland also has a zero-tolerance policy for drinking and driving for those under the age of 21, with penalties including up to two months in jail, a fine of up to $500, and a one-year license suspension.

Beer is available for purchase in Maryland from licensed retailers, bars, and restaurants

Maryland has unique laws regarding when and where alcohol can be purchased, which differ from those of its neighboring states. While beer is available for purchase seven days a week, some counties restrict alcohol sales on Sundays or shorten the hours permitted for sales. For example, Baltimore and Prince George's counties do not allow beer and wine retail sales on Sundays.

It is important to note that grocery stores and gas stations in Maryland are not permitted to sell alcohol. However, a handful of chain grocery stores are among the exceptions and are permitted to sell beer and wine, subject to individual county laws. These include some Giant, Shoppers, and Aldi stores.

Additionally, Maryland laws grandfathered permission in 1978 for a limited number of chain stores to sell beer and wine, with about 30 locations statewide permitting the sale of these alcoholic beverages. Wholesale clubs like Costco, BJ's, and Sam's Club are not among them, and members of these clubs will have to travel to nearby Washington, D.C., to purchase alcohol.

Maryland has some of the most lenient alcohol sales time regulations in the United States, and beer is available for purchase in every county in the state. However, some counties, such as Montgomery County, enforce stricter regulations for alcohol sales times.

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