UPDATE TO: Maryland Senate Bill 824 Sparks Opposition From Charles County Liquor Store Owners
LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Board of Commissioners formally opposed House Bill 1379 and Senate Bill 824 during its Feb. 25 meeting, citing concerns about the impact on small businesses and the local economy.
The proposed legislation would allow grocery stores, pharmacies, and certain retail establishments to obtain Class A alcoholic beverage licenses, which are currently restricted. The board referenced a Feb. 13 public hearing held by the Charles County Board of License Commissioners, where all 52 attendees voiced opposition to the bills.
According to the commissioners, permitting large retailers to sell alcohol could drive down prices, negatively affecting small businesses that rely on liquor sales. Additional concerns include potential job losses, early lease terminations, vacant storefronts leading to blight, and increased burdens on the county’s limited alcohol enforcement resources.
“We are gravely concerned about the ability of our existing alcohol enforcement employees to manage inspections at these large retailers with current staff,” the commissioners said in a statement. “There is one alcohol inspector and one alcohol enforcement officer for the county, who are responsible for conducting routine inspections of licensed establishments and investigations.”
The commissioners concurred with the Board of License Commissioners, stating that the bills would harm small businesses and fail to support the local economy.
“This legislation is not in the best interest of our community,” the board said.
Both bills have been referred to committees for review and have not yet had a second reading in the Maryland General Assembly.
See the BOCC draft letter of opposition here.
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Allowing alcohol sales in big box stores will make it harder for independent Liq stores to compete , therefore putting these small liquors out of business..
Big box stores are able to offer items at a lower cost due to their overhead structure .
Example compare what happens when big box pet stores open in a community where independent pet stores are located ,,, Similar situation goes with hardware stores ,,
I have noted one aspect of many pros and cons .
It does bring into the aspect of concept of free market system , and how supply and demand affect market prices …
Its just not Charles county , several counties and states imposing such regulations.
Is this far reaching for government to hamper a free market system , .?.
Ohhhh, NOW they are concerned about small businesses…Only when it interferes with prices…maybe consumers are tired of price gouging by liquor stores which are owned in some SOMD jurisdictions by commissioners and lawmakers…Hmmmmm
What about the 99% of cookie-cutter “large retailer” stores going in on every corner. Why don’t these same considerations apply?