
Maryland is one of the few states in the US that restricts the sale of beer and wine to liquor stores. This means that you can't buy Chinese beer in chain grocery, wholesale, pharmacy or convenience stores. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, with about 30 locations statewide permitting the sale of beer and wine.
What You'll Learn
- Maryland's liquor laws restrict beer sales to liquor stores
- You can buy beer on Sundays, but only at a freestanding alcohol store
- Some chain stores are exempt from the 1978 prohibition
- Wholesale clubs like Costco and BJ's can't sell beer in Maryland
- Some counties don't allow beer retail sales on Sundays
Maryland's liquor laws restrict beer sales to liquor stores
Maryland is one of the few states in the US that restricts beer and wine sales to liquor stores. This means that you cannot buy beer and wine at chain grocery, wholesale, pharmacy and convenience stores. However, there are a handful of grandfathered-in chains that are among the exceptions, with about 30 total locations statewide permitting the sale of beer and wine.
Maryland's liquor laws are different from those in neighbouring states, which can be confusing for visitors. For example, you can buy beer and wine on Sundays, but only at a freestanding alcohol store, and this law varies by county. Hours permitted in counties where alcohol sales are allowed on Sundays are 8:00am - 11:00pm, but local stores frequently have reduced hours. Baltimore and Prince George's counties are among those which do not allow beer and wine retail sales on Sunday.
There are efforts to change Maryland's liquor laws to allow grocers, wholesale clubs, pharmacies and convenience stores to sell beer and wine. This would create uniform standards to promote purchase options and help remove the restriction that has led to an overabundance of liquor stores in many communities.
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You can buy beer on Sundays, but only at a freestanding alcohol store
Maryland has some of the strictest alcohol laws in the US. You can only buy beer and wine in liquor stores, and not in chain grocery, wholesale, pharmacy or convenience stores. There are some exceptions to this rule, with about 30 chain stores statewide permitted to sell beer and wine. However, you can buy beer on Sundays, but only at a freestanding alcohol store. The law varies by county, with Baltimore and Prince George's counties among those which do not allow beer and wine retail sales on Sundays. If you are looking to buy Chinese beer in Maryland, you will need to find a freestanding alcohol store that stocks it.
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Some chain stores are exempt from the 1978 prohibition
Maryland is one of the few states that restrict beer and wine sales to liquor stores. However, some chain stores are exempt from the 1978 prohibition. There are about 30 locations statewide that permit the sale of beer and wine.
Maryland is known for its tasty seafood, but its alcohol laws are outdated. The state prohibits buying beer and wine at chain grocery, wholesale, pharmacy and convenience stores. However, there are some grandfathered-in exceptions to this rule.
One example of a chain store that is exempt from the prohibition is Costco. However, the Costco locations in Maryland are not able to sell beer and wine. Instead, customers will have to travel to nearby Washington D.C. to purchase alcohol from this store.
There are efforts to change the current laws and proposed legislation to give consumers more choices when buying beer and wine. This includes creating uniform standards to promote purchase options and removing the restriction on beer and wine sales across store locations.
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Wholesale clubs like Costco and BJ's can't sell beer in Maryland
Maryland is one of the few states in the US that restricts the sale of beer and wine to liquor stores. This means that wholesale clubs like Costco, BJ's and Sam's Club are not able to sell beer and wine in Maryland. However, there are a handful of grandfathered-in chains that are among the exceptions, with about 30 total locations statewide permitting the sale of beer and wine.
Maryland's alcohol laws are a bit different from those in neighbouring states, so it's important to be aware of the restrictions before shopping for beer. While you can buy beer and wine on Sundays, this is only permitted at freestanding alcohol stores, and the law varies by county. For example, Baltimore and Prince George's counties do not allow beer and wine retail sales on Sundays.
There have been efforts to change Maryland's restrictive alcohol laws, such as Senate Bill 763, which sought to change the laws regarding locations and licensing for alcohol sales in convenience stores while meeting specific food standards. However, these efforts have not yet been successful, and Marylanders continue to face restrictions on where they can purchase beer and wine.
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Some counties don't allow beer retail sales on Sundays
Maryland is one of the few states in the US that restricts the sale of beer and wine to liquor stores. This means that you cannot buy beer and wine at chain grocery, wholesale, pharmacy, or convenience stores.
There are also restrictions on the sale of alcohol on Sundays. In some counties, such as Baltimore and Prince George's County, beer and wine retail sales are not allowed on Sundays. However, you can still purchase alcohol at bars and restaurants on Sundays in these counties.
The hours for purchasing alcohol in Maryland are also restricted. Retail establishments can sell beer, wine, and spirits between 6 am and 12 am, while bars and restaurants can sell from 6 am until 2 am. In Montgomery County, alcohol sales are permitted on Sundays from 6 am to 1 am.
There are also some exceptions to the statewide prohibition on the sale of alcohol in grocery stores. For example, about 30 locations statewide are permitted to sell beer and wine due to a grandfathered law from 1978. Additionally, a gubernatorial executive order signed in 2020 allows wineries and restaurants to offer beer and wine to-go during a health emergency.
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Frequently asked questions
You can buy Chinese beer in Maryland at liquor stores.
No, you can't buy beer at chain grocery stores in Maryland due to a 1978 statewide prohibition.
No, wholesale clubs like Costco, BJ's and Sam's Club are not able to sell beer in Maryland.
Yes, you can buy beer on Sundays in Maryland, but only at a freestanding alcohol store and the hours vary by county.