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Delegation hears bill to permit sealed cocktails to go with carryout food, sponsor to limit to pickup
Summary
House Bill 770 would allow restaurants and taverns to sell sealed alcoholic beverages for off‑premise consumption when sold with food; sponsor said an amendment will limit the provision to pickup only and impose safeguards such as sealed containers and an 11 p.m. cutoff.
House Bill 770 would authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption when sold in sealed containers with prepared food from restaurants and taverns. Delegate Shalaga told the delegation the bill will include an amendment limiting the practice to customer pickup (not delivery) and retaining the existing protections used during the COVID period.
Under the sponsor’s description, the sale would require the beverage to be sealed with a lid or cap that does not allow a straw, purchasers must be age 21 or older and ID-checked, and the Liquor Board would adopt regulations including limits on quantity and hours; the draft language includes an 11 p.m. cutoff. Jack Milani, representing licensed beverage interests, said Baltimore County’s class B restaurant and class D taverns already have some off-premise rights and reported no problems during the COVID-era cocktails-to-go period.
The sponsor and industry witnesses said they will circulate a written amendment for review; the delegation did not vote on the bill at the Feb. 7 hearing.
