- (a) The Liquor Control Board may establish and maintain stores known as “dispensaries”.
(b) A dispensary:
- (1) may sell sparkling or fortified wine or other alcoholic beverages containing more than 14% alcohol by volume; and
- (2) shall sell the alcoholic beverages in sealed packages or containers.
- (c) A dispensary may sell chilled and nonchilled beer, wine, liquor, ice, or bottled water.
(d)
- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, all alcoholic beverages other than beer and wine shall be purchased from the Liquor Control Board.
- (2) A holder of a Class A, B, C, or D license may purchase alcoholic beverages from a dispensary or a wholesaler.
(e) A dispensary shall sell liquor at wholesale to a beer, wine, and liquor license holder:
- (1) for a Class A, B, or C license, at a markup not exceeding 15% above the operating cost to the dispensary; or
- (2) for a Class D license, at a markup not exceeding 15% above the wholesale cost to the dispensary.
(f)
- (1) The Liquor Control Board may hold wine tasting and sampling promotional events in dispensaries in accordance with this subsection.
(2) The Liquor Control Board:
- (i) may not serve to an individual more than 1 ounce from each brand at an event;
- (ii) may not allow more than six wine bottles to be open at any one time at an event;
- (iii) may not conduct events in the county on more than 10 days in any 12-month period;
- (iv) shall mark each wine bottle used for an event, once opened, that it is to be used only for tasting or sampling;
- (v) may not mix the contents of a wine bottle with the contents of another wine bottle;
- (vi) shall destroy all empty wine bottles;
- (vii) shall allow on-premises consumption at an event; and
- (viii) may not conduct wine tasting and sampling using a drive-through window.
- (g) A person may not open or consume the contents of a sealed container or package on the premises of the dispensary where sold.
- (h) Title 4, Subtitle 2 of this article does not apply to this section.
Added by Acts 2016, c. 41, § 2, eff. July 1, 2016. Amended by Acts 2024, c. 964, § 1, eff. July 1, 2024.