Several grocery chains in Montgomery County are once again enlisting customers in the struggle to overturn the antiquated liquor laws that prevent them from selling beer and wine in Maryland. Signage paid for by the Consumer Freedom Coalition prompts customers to contact their legislators in Annapolis to support bills that would allow grocery stores to sell beer and wine, but not liquor. However, once again, the machine is prevailing in the state capital, and those bills appear unlikely to pass during this session.
The effort had the support of Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who was eager to back a popular cause to distract from the new taxes and fees in the FY-2026 state budget, but was opposed by powerful Democrats on committees that first had to approve the bills to move them to the floor for a wider vote. Harris Teeter was the loudest advocate for the change during the administration of previous Governor Larry Hogan, but the campaign stalled when the pandemic hit, and liquor law changes became focused on assisting bars and restaurants by allowing take-out cocktails, for example. Safeway has joined Harris Teeter in the 2025 push for the bills. Yet neither major corporation has been able to influence enough Maryland Democrats to sign on to supermarket sales, and those same Democrats have yet to pay a price at the ballot box for their continued defiance of the popular will on the matter.
12 comments:
Asked and answered. The total quacks in Annapolis voted it down as you know. Makes absolutely zero sense. But actually it does from the one party in Annapolis point of view. Dems love govt running everything. At least in the case of MoCo, they make millions every year from being the only supplier that everyone must buy from. It's stupid but won't ever change. Lastly, Wes Moore, who is ruining the balanced budget that Larry Hogan left him, even supports getting govt out of the beer, wine and spirits business. So, he's not all bad.
Instead of taking pot shots at the Governor, you could have included a link to the site, so readers can easily message their legislators.
https://www.consumerfreedommd.com/message
11:21: There were no "pot shots at the Governor;" the article clearly states he supports allowing beer & wine sales at grocery stores.
Not a problem when your life doesn't revolve around alcohol.
A limited number of 7-11’s in Montgomery County, like the one on Georgia Ave in Aspen Hill, have been able to get Liquor Licenses so there has already been small movement in the direction of getting around the decades old BAN on grocery and convenience stores selling beer and wine in Maryland.
It's bad and backwards enough for grocery stores but worse yet how do restaurants cope with the county essentially controlling their wine lists? Let's move into this decade from the 1940's.
6:00, thanks! You summed it up, let's drop the whole argument and just be happy! What's next? Maybe you think too many lives revolve around eating liver? Maybe the stores should stop stocking it? You obviously know what's best for all!
@10:26 - It's not a limited number, it's only one 7-11 and they've held this permit for several decades now. This is the law, you can hold a single license to sell b&w however it's not profitable for chains, thus most pass on this. Safeway in Olney is a seller, and Magruder's use to sell at a single store also.
Absolutely disingenuous as usual, Robert. It's not a potshot to say he was "eager to distract" and too many other bs things you said? My god, you are so much more of a cult member than I knew when I started following you.
9:14: That's just political analysis - the governor brought up the topic just as public discussion of a very unpopular budget proposal was beginning. He knows it happens to be a very popular issue, which was not being pushed hard by him throughout the previous years of his term. Politics 101. I pointed out many of Hogan's mistakes during his term. Was I in a Democratic "cult" at that time?
7:04 - I call BS on your calling out Hogan.
6:28: You can "call BS" but nobody else reported on Hogan's politicization of MDOT, for example.
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