Maryland's Best Beer: Where To Buy It

Maryland has some of the most restrictive alcohol laws in the country, with consumers unable to purchase beer and wine in grocery stores. This is due to a 1978 law that explicitly denies alcohol licenses to chain and discount stores, and limits licenses to Maryland residents, who can only hold one license. However, there are a handful of grocery stores that are exceptions to this rule, including some branches of Giant, Safeway, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, Magruder's, Bestway Supermercado, and 7-Eleven. These stores were grandfathered into the law, allowing them to sell beer and wine. In addition, each county in Maryland has its own specific regulations regarding alcohol sales, with some counties, like Montgomery, being alcohol-controlled and having a heavy hand in regulating the distribution and sale of alcohol. Despite the restrictions, there is a movement to change the legislation and allow beer and wine sales in grocery and convenience stores, with the support of the Maryland Retailers Association and the majority of Maryland consumers.

Buying beer at grocery stores in Maryland

Maryland has some unique laws regarding when and where you can buy alcohol that are quite different from its neighbouring states. If you want to buy beer, you will need to make a special trip to a dedicated store as most grocery stores are not permitted to sell alcohol due to a 1978 prohibition. This means that large chain wholesalers and grocery stores cannot sell alcohol, including beer and wine.

However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. A few grand-fathered-in chains are among the exceptions, with about 30 locations statewide permitting the sale of beer and wine. These include Magruder's, Balducci's (formerly Sutton Place), Rodman's, and Roots Market in Olney. In Prince George's County, each grocery store chain may choose one of its locations in the county to sell beer and wine.

Maryland residents have been unable to purchase beer and wine in grocery stores since 1978, but several polls have shown that many residents want this to change. In 2020, a poll showed that more than two-thirds of the state's residents are in favour of the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores.

There have been several attempts to change the law. In 2021, State Senate Bill 763 and House Bill 996 sought to change the law, but the bill did not pass. A new bill, sponsored by Del. Lily Qi and Sen. Cory McCray, would allow voters to choose whether grocery stores could begin selling beer and wine. This bill would put a referendum to lift Maryland's ban on beer and wine in grocery stores on the ballot in November. If voters approve the amendment, grocers will be able to get beer and wine licenses beginning on July 1, 2024.

Beer laws in Maryland

Maryland has some unique laws regarding when and where you can buy beer that are quite different from its neighbouring states.

Where to Buy Beer

Beer can be purchased from package stores and private retailers, bars, restaurants, and breweries any day of the week from 8 am to 2 am. However, grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience stores are not permitted to sell beer.

Current Maryland Beer Laws

Maryland is one of the few states that prohibit the purchase of beer in grocery stores. Current laws restrict the sale to stand-alone, non-chain stores, with licensing restricted to Maryland residents. The law, established in 1978, does not allow chain stores like big-box wholesalers and grocery store chains to sell alcohol.

Proposed Changes to the Law

There have been several attempts to change the law to allow expanded licensing for beer sales in food retail stores. For instance, the proposed State Senate Bill 763 and House Bill 996 in 2021 sought to change the law, but the bill did not pass.

Public Opinion on the New Legislation

Support for expanded locations for the purchase of alcohol is growing. In 2012, support for this change was 63%, and it grew steadily to 73% in 2020, according to polls.

Buying beer online in Maryland

Maryland has some unique laws regarding the purchase of alcohol. Beer, wine, and liquor can only be purchased at free-standing stores, and sales at most chain stores are prohibited. This means that, unlike in most other states, you cannot buy alcohol at grocery, wholesale, pharmacy, or convenience stores.

However, there are some ways to buy beer online in Maryland. Through apps and websites such as Drizly, Instacart, and Minibar Delivery, you can get beer delivered to your door. These services partner with local standalone liquor stores to offer delivery, which is subject to county regulations and restrictions.

To use these services, you can shop for your desired beer on the app or website, and a personal shopper in your area will deliver your order. You will need to have your ID ready, as the shopper will scan it to verify your age. Delivery times vary, but are often as quick as 30-60 minutes. Fees also vary, with Instacart charging $3.99 for same-day orders over $35, and Minibar Delivery charging a $5 delivery fee per order.

In addition to these services, you can also buy beer online directly from websites such as Total Wine & More, which offers a range of beers for delivery.

Buying beer to-go in Maryland

Maryland has some unique laws regarding when and where you can buy alcohol that are quite different from its neighbouring states. If you want to buy beer to-go in Maryland, you will need to make a trip to a dedicated store, as most grocery stores are not permitted to sell alcohol of any kind. This is due to a 1978 statewide prohibition, which also restricts sales at most chain stores.

Where to buy beer to-go in Maryland

Specialist alcohol retailers

You can buy beer to-go from specialist alcohol retailers, including liquor stores and off-licences.

Grocery stores

A handful of grocery stores are permitted to sell beer, subject to individual county laws. These include four chains who were grandfathered in after the state law changed: Magruder’s, Balducci’s (formerly Sutton Place), Rodman’s, and Roots Market in Olney.

Pharmacies and wholesale clubs

Maryland laws grandfathered permission in 1978 for a limited number of chain stores to sell beer and wine, subject to county laws. However, wholesale clubs like Costco, BJ's, and Sam's Club are out of luck in Maryland, with DC being the closest place to buy alcohol.

Convenience stores

In some counties, such as Prince George’s County, beer, wine, and spirits can be bought at convenience stores.

Buying beer online in Maryland

Through sites like Drizly, a limited number of Marylanders can have beer delivered to their door through partnerships with stand-alone liquor stores. However, delivery is subject to county laws and varies accordingly.

Buying beer on a Sunday in Maryland

You can buy beer on a Sunday in Maryland, but only at a freestanding alcohol store, and this law varies by county. Where permitted, hours vary slightly but typically fall within 8:00 am–11:00 pm, with individual stores varying hours at their discretion. Several counties, such as Prince George’s and Baltimore, do not allow retail alcohol sales on Sundays.

Buying beer in Maryland on Sundays

If you're looking to buy beer in Maryland on a Sunday, there are a few things you need to know. Maryland has some unique laws regarding when and where you can buy alcohol, which may be different from what you're used to in other states.

Firstly, it's important to note that Maryland law restricts the sale of alcohol, including beer, to freestanding, non-chain stores. This means that you won't be able to purchase beer from a chain grocery store, wholesale club, or pharmacy. However, there are a small number of chain stores that have been grandfathered into a 1978 law and are permitted to sell beer, but these are few and far between.

When it comes to buying beer on a Sunday in Maryland, the laws vary by county. In some counties, such as Baltimore and Prince George's County, retail alcohol sales are not permitted on Sundays. However, in other counties, you may purchase beer on Sundays from freestanding alcohol stores within specific hours, typically 8:00 am to 11:00 pm. Be sure to check the laws and store hours in your specific county before heading out.

It's worth noting that there have been recent efforts to change Maryland's alcohol laws to allow for more convenient purchasing options. Proposed legislation, such as House Bill 996 and Senate Bill 763, sought to expand licensing and permit chain stores to sell beer and wine. While these bills did not pass in 2021, there is growing support among Marylanders for more accessible alcohol purchasing options, and the issue is expected to be raised again in future legislative sessions.

Frequently asked questions