Caroline County board reviews state festival and retail off‑site alcohol permits, finds limits on liquor and local gaps

The Chair of the Caroline County Board of License Commissioners called the Aug. 27 meeting to order to discuss festival permits and retail off‑site alcohol permits, and Geneva, board administrator for the board, presented research on Maryland law and what neighboring counties allow.

Geneva said Maryland "offers a nonprofit beer, wine, and liquor festival permit" and explained the state permit "allows the holder to conduct a nonprofit beer, wine, and liquor festival for at least 1 day, but no more than 3 consecutive days." She said a retail off‑site permit "allows the license holder to sell alcoholic beverages to the public for off‑site consumption" but that the state guidance limits how that off‑site permit may be used, including that the permit may be used at not more than three farmers‑market appearances in the jurisdiction and that off‑site permit holders must be…