Council introduces Bill 16-23 to amend local alcoholic-beverages code; public hearing set for Dec. 9

The council on Nov. 4 introduced a bill (Bill 16-23) to amend Chapter 11 of the Talbot County Code concerning alcoholic beverages. The bill language read into the record would permit on-premise consumption of beer, wine and liquor at alcohol-dispensary bistros; expand seating capacity for such bistros; exempt class I licenses issued for certain urban locations from the market test described in county code when the municipality lacks an existing bistro class I license; and exempt Oxford Conservation Park from the 500-foot distance restriction for new off-sale licenses.

The bill was introduced by the council and a public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m. The introduction does not itself change the county code; it begins the formal legislative process including public comment and further readings.