Advocacy for Legalizing Alcohol Sales in Grocery Stores
The Maryland Consumer Freedom Coalition, supported by the Maryland Retailers Alliance, is intensifying its campaign to permit the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores across the state.
Cailey Locklair, President of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, spoke outside a Giant grocery store on Thursday, emphasizing that allowing alcohol sales could be crucial for grocery stores struggling with narrow profit margins. This change could help them remain competitive against retailers in neighboring areas.
“In Maryland, we are at a competitive disadvantage,” Locklair stated. Residents living near state borders often travel to the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia where they can conveniently purchase groceries along with beer and wine.
State Delegate Marlon Amprey, a Democrat representing District 40 and a previous sponsor of unsuccessful bills aimed at legalizing alcohol sales outside select stores, joined Locklair at the press conference. He announced plans to reintroduce his Alcoholic Beverages Modernization Act during the upcoming legislative session starting in January.
Amprey argued that permitting beer and wine sales in grocery stores would enhance convenience for families and workers while providing local businesses with a better chance to thrive. He also highlighted safety concerns regarding shopping environments in certain neighborhoods.
“Some establishments in my neighborhoods are tattered. They have bulletproof glass and individuals don’t necessarily feel safe shopping for their beer and wine in these areas,” he noted. “It’s important that we have options to shop in well-lit stores with stable hours.”
Governor Wes Moore has expressed his support for changing current laws regarding alcohol sales. According to Rhyan Lake, senior communications strategist for Moore, “Like the vast majority of Marylanders across political parties and regions, he supports lifting Maryland’s ban on beer and wine sales in grocery stores.” The governor aims to collaborate with the General Assembly to align Maryland’s regulations with those of over 40 other states that have enacted similar reforms.
The Maryland State Licensed Beverage Association opposes these efforts, arguing that allowing grocery store sales would jeopardize small businesses reliant on direct alcohol sales. The association claims this sector provides over 138,200 jobs statewide with significant contributions to local economies through wages and taxes.
The association warns that lifting the ban could diminish their market share: “If you have a pie cut into eight pieces versus sixteen pieces, everyone gets less unless there is substantial growth,” said Jack Milani, owner of a pub in Baltimore County.
