EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0839*
SENATE BILL 839
A2 5lr2675
CF HB 569
By: Dorchester County Senators
Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2025
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 16, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Dorchester County – Alcoholic Beverages – Beer, Wine, and Liquor Tasting 2
License 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing certain Class A license holders in Dorchester County to 4
conduct tastings of liquor under certain circumstances, in addition to tastings of beer 5
or wine; limiting the quantity of liquor allowed per individual for tastings; and 6
generally relating to alcoholic beverages licenses in Dorchester County. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 9
Section 19–102 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2024 Replacement Volume) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 14
Section 19–1306 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2024 Replacement Volume) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 20
2 SENATE BILL 839
19–102. 1
This title applies only in Dorchester County. 2
19–1306. 3
(a) There is a beer [and], wine, AND LIQUOR tasting [(BWT)] (BWLT) license. 4
(b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Board may issue the 5
license to a holder of a Class A license to hold tastings of beer [or], wine, OR LIQUOR. 6
(2) [The holder of a Class A beer license may use the license to hold tastings 7
of beer only] A LICENSE HOLDER MAY N OT HOLD TASTINGS OF ANY ALCOHOLIC 8
BEVERAGES THAT THE L ICENSE HOLDER IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO SELL U NDER THE 9
HOLDER’S CLASS A LICENSE. 10
(c) The license authorizes the holder to allow the consumption of beer [or], wine, 11
OR LIQUOR for tasting if: 12
(1) the consumer is not charged for the beer [or], wine, OR LIQUOR; and 13
(2) the beer [or], wine, OR LIQUOR is consumed on the premises of the 14
holder of the Class A license. 15
(d) (1) An applicant for the license shall submit to the Board an application on 16
a form that the Board provides. 17
(2) The Board may not require the publication of a license application 18
before issuing the license. 19
(3) The Board may issue the license without a public hearing. 20
(4) If an initial license application is denied: 21
(i) the applicant may resubmit the application; and 22
(ii) on request from the applicant, the Board shall hold a public 23
hearing on the license application before determining whether to issue the license. 24
(5) The license holder shall notify the Board in writing at least 7 days 25
before the event at which the license is to be used. 26
(6) Renewal of the license may be made when the holder’s Class A license 27
is renewed. 28
SENATE BILL 839 3
(e) An individual may consume beer [or], wine, OR LIQUOR covered by the 1
license in a quantity of not more than: 2
(1) (i) 3 ounces from each offering of beer; and 3
(ii) 8 ounces from all offerings of beer in 1 day; [and] 4
(2) (i) 1 ounce from each offering of wine; and 5
(ii) 4 ounces from all offerings of wine in 1 day; AND 6
(3) (I) 0.5 OUNCES FROM EACH OFF ERING OF LIQUOR ; AND 7
(II) 1.5 OUNCES FROM ALL OFFE RINGS OF LIQUOR IN 1 DAY. 8
(f) At the end of the day for which the license is valid, the license holder shall 9
properly dispose of beer [or], wine, OR LIQUOR that remains in a container that was 10
opened for tasting. 11
(g) The license fee is: 12
(1) $150 for not more than 15 beer [or], wine, OR LIQUOR tastings per 13
year; or 14
(2) $250 for not more than 30 beer [or], wine, OR LIQUOR tastings per 15
year. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 17
1, 2025. 18
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.