Maryland's Best Beer And Wine: Where To Buy?

Maryland has some unique laws regarding the purchase of alcohol. The state is one of the last in the US to prohibit the sale of beer and wine in chain grocery, wholesale, pharmacy, and convenience stores. This is due to a 1978 law intended to protect small mom and pop retailers from competition from larger chains. However, there are some exceptions, with a handful of chain stores permitted to sell alcohol under a grandfather clause.

While Maryland's alcohol laws may seem confusing to some, they vary considerably by county, with each county having its own specific regulations. For example, in Montgomery County, alcohol sales are permitted on Sundays, while in Prince George's County, the retail sale of alcohol on Sundays is forbidden.

There have been recent efforts to update these laws and expand licensing to permit chain stores to sell alcohol. However, these proposed changes have faced opposition from those who wish to protect small businesses and those who believe that allowing grocery stores to sell alcohol could hurt public health.

Where to buy beer and wine in Maryland: Online

Maryland has some unique laws regarding the purchase of alcohol. While you can buy beer and wine in-store, there are restrictions on where you can buy it. Current law allows for all alcohol to be purchased at free-standing stores, and licensing prohibits sales at most chain stores. So, if you want beer or wine, you will need to go to a dedicated store.

However, there are a few online options for purchasing beer and wine in Maryland.

Drizly

Drizly is an online alcohol delivery service that partners with stand-alone liquor stores to deliver beer and wine to a limited number of Marylanders. Delivery is subject to county laws and regulations.

Instacart

Instacart is another option for online alcohol delivery in Maryland. You can shop for beer, wine, liquor, and mixers via the Instacart app or website, and a personal shopper in your area will deliver your order. You can track your order in progress and communicate with your shopper. Instacart accepts various forms of ID, including a United States-issued driver's license, military ID, state-issued identification card, or passport. Please note that additional alcohol cannot be added to your cart once you have placed your order, and contactless delivery is available.

Minibar Delivery

Minibar Delivery offers a wide range of wine, liquor, beer, and mixers for delivery in Maryland. After providing your location, you can browse thousands of items from local store partners and select your favorites for delivery in as little as 30-60 minutes.

Total Wine & More

Total Wine & More offers an online selection of beer from Maryland, including popular brands like Guinness, Flying Dog, and Duclaw. You can browse and purchase their products online and pick them up at your convenience.

While Maryland has some unique laws regarding alcohol purchases, there are several online options available for your convenience. Please remember to drink responsibly and follow the law when purchasing and consuming alcohol.

Where to buy beer and wine in Maryland: In-store

Maryland has some unique laws regarding the purchase of alcohol. While the laws vary by county, the state has some restrictions on where you can buy beer and wine that are quite different from its neighbouring states.

Maryland is one of the few states that prohibit the purchase of beer and wine in chain grocery, wholesale, pharmacy, and convenience stores. This is due to a 1978 statewide prohibition that prevents most grocery stores from selling alcohol of any kind. However, there are a handful of exceptions. Certain grocery chains are allowed to sell beer and wine under a "grandfather clause". These include:

• Giant Food
• Safeway
• Shoppers Food & Pharmacy
• Magruder's
• Bestway Supermercado
• 7-Eleven
• Snider's Foods

Each of these chains is allowed to have one location that sells beer and wine in Montgomery County. For example, the Giant Food store on New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring and the Safeway store in Olney. These licenses can be transferred to any of the chain's other locations in Montgomery County, subject to approval.

In addition to these grocery stores, there are also some convenience stores and gas stations that sell beer and wine. For example, the Royal Farms store in Parkville and the 7-11 store in Aspen Hill.

It's important to note that the laws regarding alcohol sales in Maryland are constantly evolving, and there have been recent efforts to expand licensing to permit chain stores to sell beer and wine. As of 2021, there are some counties in Maryland that allow the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores, including Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and St. Mary's. Prince George's County also allows each corporation to have one location that sells beer and wine.

While the laws in Maryland may be confusing, there are plenty of options for purchasing beer and wine in-store. However, it's always a good idea to check the local laws and regulations before heading out to make a purchase.

Where to buy beer and wine in Maryland: On Sundays

Maryland has some unique laws regarding when and where you can buy alcohol, which are quite different from its neighbouring states. The laws concerning the purchase of beer and wine in Maryland on Sundays are outlined below.

Where to Buy Beer and Wine in Maryland on Sundays

You can buy beer and wine on Sundays in Maryland, but only at a freestanding alcohol store, and this law varies by county. Where permitted, the hours are typically 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., but individual stores may vary their hours at their discretion. Some counties, like Baltimore and Prince George's County, do not allow beer and wine retail sales on Sundays.

Alcohol Sales Hours in Specific Counties

In Montgomery County, alcohol sales are permitted on Sundays from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. at retail establishments. In Prince George's County, alcohol sales are prohibited on Sundays, but you can still purchase beer and alcohol on Sundays at bars and restaurants from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Beer and Wine Sales at Grocery Stores

Although most grocery stores are not permitted to sell alcohol due to a 1978 statewide prohibition, a few grandfathered-in chains are exceptions. These include Magruder's, Balducci's (formerly Sutton Place), Rodman's, and Roots Market in Olney. However, these stores may only sell beer and wine at specific locations, and the licenses can be transferred to other locations within the same county.

Changes to Alcohol Laws

There have been efforts to update Maryland's alcohol laws, with proposed changes seeking to expand licensing and allow beer and wine sales in grocery and convenience stores. Support for these changes is growing, with polls showing that almost 80% of Marylanders support being able to buy beer and wine at their local grocery store.

Where to buy beer and wine in Maryland: In grocery stores

Maryland has some unique laws regarding the purchase of alcohol. While you may be able to buy beer and wine in grocery stores in other states, it is a little more complicated in Maryland.

Most grocery stores in Maryland are not permitted to sell alcohol of any kind due to a 1978 statewide prohibition. However, a handful of chain stores are permitted to sell beer and wine due to a grandfather clause in the law. These stores are subject to individual county laws, which adds another layer of complexity to the situation.

So, where can you buy beer and wine in Maryland grocery stores? Here are some of the grocery stores that have been reported to sell alcohol:

• Montgomery County: Giant Food, Safeway, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, Magruder's, Bestway Supermercado, 7-Eleven, and Snider's Foods. Each of these chains is allowed to have one location that sells beer and wine. For example, the Giant Food store on New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring and the Safeway in Olney.
• Prince George's County: Shoppers (College Park and possibly Cherry Hill Road), Giant (Lanham), and Royal Farms (Taylor Avenue in Parkville). Each grocery store chain in this county may choose one location to sell beer and wine.
• Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and St. Mary's counties: Grocery stores in these more rural counties are allowed to sell beer and wine.
• Baltimore County: Eddy's on Charles Street, Rofo in Hampden and Bowley's Quarters, and a specialty grocery store in Pikesville.
• Other locations: World Market on Rockville Pike, Rofo in Essex, and Rite-Aids in various locations.

It is important to note that the laws regarding alcohol sales in Maryland vary by county, and they are subject to change. Therefore, it is always a good idea to check the current laws and regulations before purchasing alcohol in a grocery store in Maryland.

Where to buy beer and wine in Maryland: In rural counties

Maryland has some unique laws regarding when and where you can buy alcohol. The state prohibits the purchase of beer and wine in most grocery, wholesale, pharmacy, and convenience stores. However, there are some exceptions, especially in rural counties.

In rural counties like Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester, and St. Mary's, the laws are more relaxed, and you can buy beer and wine at grocery stores. In these counties, you can conveniently pick up your favourite craft beer or a bottle of wine along with your groceries. This is a stark contrast to most other parts of Maryland, where such purchases are restricted to standalone, non-chain stores.

Prince George's County, while not entirely rural, also offers some flexibility. Each grocery store chain in this county is allowed to choose one of its locations to sell beer and wine. So, if you're in this county, you might get lucky and find your desired drinks at a familiar grocery store.

Additionally, in Montgomery County, four grocery stores—Magruder's, Balducci's, Rodman's, and Roots Market in Olney—are licensed to sell beer and wine due to a grandfather clause. These stores were licensed before the state law changed, and they continue to offer alcohol alongside their regular groceries.

It's worth noting that the laws regarding alcohol sales can vary by county in Maryland, and some counties may have their own unique provisions. While these rural counties offer more options for purchasing beer and wine, it's always a good idea to check the specific regulations in the county you're visiting or residing in.

There are also ongoing efforts to change these restrictive laws. Many Marylanders find the current legislation inconvenient and believe it should be updated to align with modern shopping habits. Proposed changes seek to expand licensing and allow beer and wine sales in grocery and convenience stores. However, as of 2021, these bills have not yet passed, and further legislative action is needed to bring about this change.

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