Every state in the U.S. has at least a few different laws regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol. What are Maryland’s beer laws and what should you know before you head out to buy beer in the free state?
In Maryland, you can buy beer from package stores and private retailers, bars, and restaurants any day of the week from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Bars and restaurants sell beer on tap and in cans and bottles. Shops sell beer in cans and bottles. Delivery is unavailable in Maryland. Minors can drink beer with their parents in their homes.
Keep reading for a comprehensive and in-depth guide to Maryland’s beer laws, including where and when to buy it.
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Is Maryland a dry state?
A dry state prohibits or restricts the sale or consumption of alcohol in a specific area. There are no dry states in the United States.
Maryland is not a dry state. Although some areas in the state have more strict laws regarding the sale of alcohol, you can buy beer or liquor in any Maryland county. Some counties in Maryland enact shorter sales hours for alcohol.
Sales times for alcohol in Maryland vary greatly by county, so be sure to check out hours of operations before heading out to pick up a case of beer.
Does Maryland have any dry counties?
Some states allow beer sales at the state level while permitting counties to make their own laws. Maryland does not have dry counties, but some enforce stricter laws regarding sales times.
Maryland does not have any dry counties. Its last dry town, Damascus, started allowing beer sales in 2013. Montgomery County, one of the most populous and visited counties in the state, has stricter regulations for alcohol sales times.
Since 2013, you can buy beer to some degree in any county or town in Maryland.
When can you buy beer in Maryland?
Maryland has some of the most alcohol laws in the United States, but as far as sales times go, these rules are relatively lenient.
In Maryland, you can buy beer any day of the week. Privately owned retailers can sell beer from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day. Bars and restaurants can also sell beer from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day.
Maryland does not allow grocery stores and convenience stores to sell alcohol.
Can you buy beer on Sunday in Maryland?
Beer is available on Sundays in Maryland. Some counties restrict alcohol sales on Sundays or at least shorten the hours permitted to sell it.
You can buy beer in Maryland from any licensed retailer, bar, or restaurant any day of the week from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Locations’ hours of operations vary by county or the owner.
Many counties, although not completely dry, enforce stricter laws than the state-level ones and restrict or greatly prohibit Sunday sales times.
When do bars close in Maryland?
Bars in Maryland are not strangers to the nightlife.
Maryland bars are required to close at 2 a.m. every day, although some close earlier. Some bars close as early as 11 p.m.
Some Maryland counties don’t permit bars to open until 11 a.m.
Where can you buy beer in Maryland?
What places sell beer in Maryland and what times are they open?
There are a couple of places to buy beer in Maryland:
- Bars and restaurants
- Package and liquor stores
- Private retailers
- Breweries and taprooms
Grocery stores and gas stations in Maryland are not permitted to sell alcohol.
Bars and restaurants
Maryland bars and restaurants are allowed to sell beer any day of the week from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
They can sell beer on draft and in cans or bottles. Additionally, they sell growlers and beer to-go.
Package and liquor stores
Package and liquor stores sell beer in Maryland and are open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. at the state level. One of the most common beer stores in Maryland is TotalWine
These locations sell beer in cases in cans and bottles.
Private retailers
Private beer retailers sell only beer. They are permitted to sell it between the hours of 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., though this varies largely by county, and most close at or before 11 p.m.
These retailers sell beer by the case in cans or bottles and are often the best source for beer in the state.
Breweries and taprooms
Breweries and taprooms in Maryland are allowed to open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day, but some counties make them close earlier. Most breweries close before 2 a.m.
These locations are allowed to sell beer on tap and in cans and bottles. They also can sell packaged growlers.
Can you get beer delivered in Maryland?
Many states have passed laws to enable alcohol delivery. Maryland is not one of them.
You can not get beer delivered in Maryland. Any direct shipment of alcohol to a consumer is illegal.
What is the minimum drinking age in Maryland?
The minimum drinking age in the United States is 21. Some states make exceptions to that rule for minors drinking a beer with their parents or consuming alcohol for religious purposes, including Maryland.
The minimum drinking age in Maryland is 21.
The minimum age is 21 except for a few specific circumstances.
Can minors drink beer in Maryland with parents?
Minors can drink a beer in the case of a few exceptions.
Minors are allowed to drink a beer with their immediate family as long as the alcohol is consumed inside the family’s residence or property. Minors can also drink alcohol for religious ceremonies.
Drinking laws in Maryland
In general, Maryland’s drinking laws are a bit difficult to follow. Many rules vary by the county and, in a few cases, state laws are not the standard. However, some rules are implemented at the state and even country levels.
Beer is available in every county in Maryland. It can be purchased at a handful of locations including bars and restaurants, retailers, and breweries any day of the week.
Check with a county’s sales times and beer availability for more accurate details on such things.
Can you buy growlers and other unsealed beer containers in Maryland?
Growlers are permitted in Maryland.
In Maryland, growlers are allowed and sold in bars, restaurants, and breweries. They’re able to be refilled in all jurisdictions.
Open container
Open containers are not allowed in Maryland.
In Maryland, open containers are not allowed in cars or public. Open containers in public near a retail or restaurant establishment are not authorized and punishable by up to a $100 fine. Open containers in a vehicle are a $25 fine.
Driving
In Maryland, there are two types of drinking and driving offenses: DWI and DUI. A DWI pertains to a person with a BAC of 0.07% who is assumed to be impaired. A DUI pertains to a person who has a BAC of 0/08% or higher that is assumed to be under the influence.
Drinking and driving is illegal in Maryland.
The legal blood alcohol content may not exceed 0.08% without penalty. Drunk driving offenses are misdemeanors in Maryland.
Under 21 years old
Maryland has a zero-tolerance policy for drinking and driving under the age of 21.
It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drink and drive in Maryland.
Violation of this law can result in up to two months in jail, up to $500 in fines, and a one-year license suspension
21 years and older
Drivers convicted of a DUI (above 0.08 BAC) face up to:
- A $1,000 fine
- Up to one year in jail
- 12 points on your driving record and
- Six months license suspension.
Drivers convicted of a DWI (0.07-0.08 BAC) face up to:
- A $500 fine
- Up to two months imprisonment
- Eight points on your driving record,
- Six months license suspension.