As a sommelier and brewer, I have had the opportunity to explore and study various alcohol laws and regulations across different states. When it comes to Maryland, the state as a whole does not operate under the control state system, which means that the sale and distribution of alcohol are not directly controlled by the government.
However, there is an interesting exception to this in Montgomery County, Maryland. Despite not being a control state itself, Montgomery County has implemented certain liquor laws that give it some control over alcohol sales within its jurisdiction. This means that Montgomery County operates differently from the rest of the state when it comes to the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages.
In Montgomery County, the county government has chosen to regulate alcohol sales by limiting the number of off-premises liquor stores. Currently, there are 25 off-premises liquor stores in the county, which are all subject to specific regulations and restrictions imposed by the county government.
Having personally experienced the unique alcohol regulations in Montgomery County, I can say that it can be a bit different from other areas. For example, when I wanted to open a specialty wine shop in the county, I had to navigate through a specific set of rules and requirements that were not applicable in other parts of Maryland.
While Montgomery County may not have officially designated “ABC stores” like those found in some control states, the county's regulations effectively control the number and operation of off-premises liquor stores. This can have an impact on the availability and variety of alcoholic beverages in the area, as well as the overall consumer experience.
It's worth noting that the decision to implement these liquor laws in Montgomery County was made at the county level, and it does not reflect the statewide alcohol regulations in Maryland. In other counties across the state, alcohol sales may be more liberal and less regulated.
Maryland as a whole is not a control state, but Montgomery County has chosen to regulate alcohol sales by limiting the number of off-premises liquor stores. This creates a unique situation within the state where certain liquor laws apply specifically to Montgomery County.