LEONARDTOWN, MD – On Feb. 26, 2026, at approximately 3 p.m., the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Alcohol Enforcement Unit conducted a series of alcohol compliance checks at licensed establishments across St. Mary’s County. The covert operation involved a 19-year-old confidential informant (CI) working under the supervision of Corporal Kristi Nelson of the Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division.
The CI, dressed in camouflage pants and a T-shirt, entered restaurants and retail establishments and attempted to purchase an alcoholic beverage to assess whether businesses were complying with Maryland’s age-verification laws. Cpl. Nelson, also in plain clothes, monitored the compliance checks.
During the operation, they visited 13 businesses. Twelve establishments followed Maryland law and requested identification from the CI. One business failed to request identification or verify the CI’s age and proceeded with the sale of an alcoholic beverage.
The businesses that passed the compliance check:
- 7th District Bar & Grill 36786 Bushwood Wharf Road, Bushwood
- Atrium Wine and Spirit 37680 Mohawk Drive, Charlotte Hall
- Captain Sam’s 22664 Colton Point Road, Bushwood
- Fred’s Liquors 30075 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall
- Leonardtown Wine & Spirits 25470 Point Lookout Road, Leonardtown
- Lighthouse Liquors 30411 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall
- Merchants Lane Fine Wine & Spirits 40845 Merchants Lane, Leonardtown
- New Market Wine & Spirits 29233 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville
- Race-N-In 26755 Stone Corner Lane, Mechanicsville
- St. Mary’s Gas Station 23950 Colton Point Road, Clements
- Village Liquors 25731 Budds Creek Road, Chaptico
- Vino 2 Wine & Liquor: 30320 Triangle Drive, Charlotte Hall
The business that did not pass the compliance check and failed to ask for any identification:
- Murphy’s Town & Country 21270 Oakley Road, Avenue
The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to enforcing alcohol laws to protect the health and safety of the community’s youth. Businesses are reminded of their responsibility to comply with state laws regarding the sale of age-restricted products.