Governor Wes Moore is advocating for a change in Maryland’s regulations to allow beer and wine sales in grocery stores. Currently, the state restricts these sales to liquor stores with a few exceptions. The issue has sparked a debate, with small businesses like Talbert’s Ice and Beverage in Bethesda expressing concerns about potential negative impacts on their sales. However, Moore argues that allowing grocery chains to sell alcohol would provide consumers with more choice and create fair competition in the marketplace. Some residents also support the change, citing convenience as a key factor.
A 2022 poll commissioned by the Maryland Retailers Association found that 72% of respondents supported allowing grocery stores to sell beer and wine. However, Del. C.T. Wilson, chair of the General Assembly’s Economic Matters committee, has expressed reservations about changing the current regulations, stating that Maryland is not broken and that small businesses could be negatively affected in favor of larger corporations.
The general assembly is set to convene on Jan. 8, where a bill to change the regulations would need to pass through the Economic Matters committee for approval. The outcome of this debate remains uncertain, as stakeholders on both sides continue to voice their opinions on the potential impact of allowing beer and wine sales in grocery stores in Maryland.
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