The Talbot County Council passed new legislation today which repeals and reenacts provisions of the County code that regulates the sale of alcoholic beverages in Talbot County.
The 3-2 vote followed years of deliberation and debate on alcohol use in the county, including the work of the Blue Ribbon Commission, which was convened in 2006, and in 2007 offered to the County Council recommendations on addressing Talbot resident’s alcohol use. The Commission was formed to respond to Talbot’s 20 year history of exceptionally high incidences of youth arrests, teenage binging, alcohol-related car crashes and adult alcohol abuse.
After last month’s public hearings, in which a dozen individuals and businesses offered comment on Bill 1212, the Council today approved five amendments to the bill, most of which addressed specific concerns held by businesses currently holding liquor licenses. Rite Aid, Safeway and existing licensed gas stations’ concerns were specifically addressed in the amendments.
Talbot County Commissioners supporting Bill 1212 were President Corey W. Pack, Dirck K. Bartlett and Andrew Hollis. Both Laura E. Price and Thomas G. Duncan opposed the Bill.
The details:
- Most existing liquor license holders are protected from any changes.
- Cashiers handling alcohol sales must be at least 21 years of age, a change from the present 18 year old age requirement.
- New off-sale licenses will be based on a “market-test formula” which would permit a new license when the total population within a service area exceeds 749 persons.
- Supermarkets or chain stores wanting new Class A (beer and light wine) licenses must sell that alcohol in an area separated from the main store by an 8 ft. wall or partition, and will require separate staff to handle those sales.
- New Class “E” licenses – off-sale of beer, wine and liquor – will only be issued to “alcohol dispensaries” – not groceries, chain stores or gas stations. Supermarkets and chain stores with current licenses are exempted from this provision.
- No new licenses will be issued to pharmacies at all. Rite Aid is grandfathered in to keep their current license.
- No new gas stations will be granted off-sale licenses. Gas stations with existing Class “A” licenses may keep those licenses.
- Class “D” licenses – marinas must sell alcohol in a café.
- Hotels and restaurants will be allowed to apply for caterer’s endorsements, allowing them to sell alcohol off site.
- Non-profit theaters will be allowed to serve liquor in addition to beer and wine.
- The Council did not address enforcement, penalties or education in the Bill passed today. The Council today asked the Blue Ribbon Commission to go back to the table to begin to address these issues.
Randy Haddaway says
Now let’s regulate cigarettes! This kills more people. County “smoke” tax.
Ron Sasiela says
Can’t wait for the French Fry ban to reduce the incidence of obesity in Talbot County!
Tod Engelskirchen says
Enough!!!! Where is the problem? How will it be solved??
Businesses should be able to make money.
If the grocery stores in St. Michaels were not allowed to sell liquor, then we could lose them. I do not want to see that happen.
This is one area where the laws on the books were fine. New ones are an overstep.