The Alcohol Beverage Board of St. Mary's County on Dec. 13 conditionally approved multiple license and privilege requests during a regular meeting in Leonardtown.

Most prominently, the board approved a conditional transfer of Lexington Village Wine & Spirits to Ajit Singh (WER7 LLC) and granted the applicant a beer-and-wine-tasting (BWT) 365-day privilege. The board set the transfer as conditional on completion of closing, a trader's (change-of-occupancy) permit, a signed lease and other typical documentation; the approval included a 90-day window for the applicant to complete required filings.

Separately, the board approved a special-privilege application that allows an off-sale licensee to conduct beer and wine tastings year-round (365 days). The licensee on the record identified himself as Joshua Lee Carr and said tastings would take place in a compact back area of the store. Board staff reminded all licensees of statutory and administrative limits for tastings: limits per-offering and per-day totals, and the requirement to dispose of any open containers at the end of the business day.

In other routine business, the board granted permission for extended hours on New Year's Eve to a list of eight established on-sale licensees, allowing service between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2019, provided they meet health and food-preparation requirements. The approved list included Bramley Inn; Brass Rail; Butler's Place; OCI Pub and Pizza King; Sea Breeze Restaurant; St. Mary's Elk Lodge No. 2092; Starter's Lounge; and VFW Post 2632.

What the approvals mean
- Lexington Village Wine & Spirits: Applicant Ajit Singh told the board he expects to close within weeks; the board made approval conditional on closing and documented permits. The board discussed RAS/TAM training and the need for employees to complete required alcohol-awareness training. The applicant requested up to 90 days to complete paperwork; the board agreed the 90-day conditional period was acceptable and granted the BWT 365 privilege as part of the transfer application.

- Early Bird (beer/wine tastings): The board approved a 365-day tasting rider designed to reduce administrative burden for stores that host frequent tastings. Board staff reiterated tasting-size limits and the requirement to dispose of opened product.

- New Year's Eve extended hours: The board approved a single omnibus motion granting the listed establishments the limited exception to remain open and serve prepared food between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2019. Board staff explained most of the administrative work for these permits (temporary food permits, health-department sign-off) is performed by applicants.

Votes and procedure
All three items were approved by voice vote; the transcript records the motions, seconds and the board's "Aye" responses but does not include a roll-call tally for each vote. Where applicable, approvals were explicitly conditional on required permits, closing, and training.

The board noted that applicants must return signed original licenses when issued and follow the board office's procedures to finalize transfers and privilege riders.