Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Alcohol Regulation Class A topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Delegation reviews beer-and-wine tasting language for Class A stores, tables bill for further work
Summary
Members discussed proposed changes to Class A store tasting rules that would cap combined beer and wine tastings at 6 ounces and restrict liquor tastings; the proposal was tabled for further drafting and outreach to businesses.
The Frederick County Delegation discussed proposed revisions to beer-and-wine tasting rules for Class A liquor stores but tabled the measure for further drafting and stakeholder outreach.
Don Sugars of the Frederick County Liquor Board explained that the proposal aims to limit combined tastings of beer and wine to a total of 6 ounces and to avoid creating a pathway for full-beer service in Class A stores. "We wanted to keep it very, standard across the board that you can drink 6 ounces of any beer or wine in a combination, but you can never exceed the 6 ounces," Sugars said. He added the drafters removed a provision allowing a full beer so customers would not be able to walk around a store with a full beer.
Members raised questions about industry feedback and whether the change would mirror the earlier salon measure that allowed a slightly larger single-serve wine container. Sugars said the liquor-board outreach found little opposition and that only one or two of roughly 114 licensed stores had used a prior full-beer allowance. The liquor board also reported there were 56 entities countywide with tasting endorsements.
Given the substantive change from previous practice and questions about enforcement and business practice, the delegation elected to pause the vote and workshop the language further. Chair Pippe said he would reach out to Liquor Board staff to work on revised draft language; the item will return to the delegation next week for a possible vote.
