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Board approves U5 Foods' upgrade to sell beer, wine and liquor off-premises
Summary
The Caroline County Board of License Commissioners approved an upgrade for U5 Foods in Bethlehem to a Class A beer, wine and liquor off-premise license, citing public need after a nearby store closed; the applicant said staff are TIPS-trained and use an ID-scanning system to reduce sales to minors.
The Caroline County Board of License Commissioners voted Aug. 28 to approve an application by U5 Foods in Bethlehem to upgrade its license from Class A beer (off-sale) to Class A beer, wine and liquor (off-sale).
Miller Parker, representing the applicant, told the board the upgrade responds to a demonstrated public need after a nearby liquor outlet closed. "For a matter of public convenience, it makes sense for U5 to upgrade their product line," Parker said. The applicant sworn in for testimony identified himself as Mohammed.
Mohammed described the store’s age-verification procedures and staff training. "The system is when somebody find alcohol and we have the scanning system now ... you can put the driver's license and then meet the scanner and that would tell you yes or no," he said, adding that he and his clerks are TIPS-trained. He said the Bethlehem store has four to five tipped employees and that since the closure of the nearby store customers have asked the store to sell liquor.
Board members pressed on safeguards. Commissioners asked whether employees both scan and visually check IDs; Mohammed said clerks look at the photo and date of birth and then scan. Staff and board members noted that scanners are a helpful tool but not infallible and encouraged continuing ID vigilance.
The hearing record noted the nearest beer, wine and liquor outlets require a round trip of roughly 8–10 miles for some Bethlehem residents, which members cited when assessing public need. The board reviewed factors required by county rules, including the number and location of existing license holders, potential effects on existing holders, and impacts on health, safety and welfare.
A motion to approve the upgrade, conditioned on payment of all necessary fees, was made and seconded and carried without recorded opposition. The board advised the applicant to complete fee payment and any remaining state or county inspections before license issuance.
The board moved on to other business after the vote; the applicant thanked the members and left the hearing.
