Politics & Government

Speak Out: Should Maryland Allow Alcohol Sales in Grocery Stores?

The proposed liquor store at a Wegmans in Columbia, Md., has sparked the debate.

COLUMBIA, Md. — The inside the new Columbia Wegmans has reignited the debate over whether wine, beer and liquor should be sold in Maryland grocery and convenience stores.

In an expansive article on Saturday, The Baltimore Sun examined how multiple grocery stores are trying to find ways around rules that generally ban chain grocery stores from selling wine, beer and liquor. 

In order to be within liquor license rules, the proposed liquor store for Wegmans would be 10 percent owned and managed on a day-to-day basis by Ralph Michael Smith, a lawyer who lives in Ellicott City, Md.

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IAD LLC would own the other 90 percent of the store. IAD is a Delaware holding company owned by Christopher O’Donnell, the husband of Colleen Wegman, the president of Wegmans. Although O’Donnell is connected to Wegmans through his wife, he is technically independent from the chain grocery store.

 at liquor board hearing on May 1.

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“They’re not allowed to have a liquor store, so they’ve figured out a way to do it,” said Amran Pasha, who owns a gas station in Columbia. “The next thing we have is Giant doing the same thing … that means the end of small business in Columbia.” 

Only one Howard County, Md., resident came out in support of the proposal, Judy George of Laurel, Md.

“With the antiquated laws in Maryland, it’s really hard to find great wines and beers,” she said.

What do you think? Should Maryland allow beer, wine and liquor sales at chain grocery stores? Post your comments below.


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