Amanda Engel
WMAL.COM
WASHINGTON (WMAL) — One Montgomery County delegate is fed up with the “old” and “goofy” laws governing the sale and distribution of alcohol in his county.
Eric Luedtke has introduced two bills to the Montgomery County Delegation to try and reform the laws.
The first bill he introduced would allow grocery stores to set up a “store-within-a-store” that sells alcohol.
“Just like you go into a Target today and there’s a Starbucks in there, you’d be able to go into a grocery store and there would be a beer or wine or liquor retailer.. that would be selling wine there in the grocery store,” said Luedtke.
The second bill he is proposing would, among other things, allow the sale of refrigerated beer and alcohol, which is currently not allowed in Montgomery County.
Luedtke expects push back against the bills to come from special interest groups.
Specifically he expects the Licensed Beverage Association to oppose it, because they are “the owners of the existing beer and wine shops that don’t want more competition,” says Luedtke.
Copyright 2017 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: Eric Luedtke/Maryland State Delegates)
