Starting Saturday, restaurants in Maryland will no longer be allowed to offer carryout alcohol. Purchasing takeout cocktails and other forms of alcohol became an option during the pandemic. But as of July 1 that will no longer be permitted.
The measure will sunset Friday, “meaning you’ll no longer be able to order margaritas, beer, or mixed drinks to-go,” County Executive Marc Elrich said during a media briefing Wednesday.
The Maryland General Assembly previously passed a COVID-19 measure to let restaurants sell alcoholic drinks for carryout and delivery.
Elrich said he personally supported continuing the practice. He even advocated for it in the General Assembly last session. But it was not approved.
License-holders have been notified about the temporary permission expiring, according to a spokesperson for the county’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS).
Division of Licensure, Regulation and Education (LRE) will continue education and outreach in coming weeks and enforce the change as needed. Restaurants who sold takeout alcoholic beverages have generally been found to have acted responsibly, so ABS expects the businesses to comply as the measure ends.
To note, although less common, some licenses have always let restaurants sell beer and wine to-go, but not liquor or mixed drinks.
Also Saturday, recreational cannabis use will be legalized in Maryland for those ages 21 and older.
In addition, the minimum wage will increase in Montgomery County on Saturday.
