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FOX 5 News at 5
If you were hoping this was the year Maryland would finally allow the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores, you're likely to be disappointed. Efforts to push legislation through the general assembly appear to be falling short.
MARYLAND - If you were hoping this was the year Maryland would finally allow the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores, you're likely to be disappointed.
Efforts to push legislation through the general assembly appear to be falling short.
There was hope that one day soon Maryland residents might be able to buy beer and wine in grocery stores in Maryland and Governor Wes Moore came out in favor of the proposal.
FOX 5 even spoke with the governor about this last month.
"It's a law that at this point is just antiquated. Maryland is one of only three states in the country that does not allow beer sales inside of supermarkets and it's just making it easier for people who choose to go and get wine or beer that they can actually go and have a measure of both convenience and also a measure of dignity," Gov. Moore said. "We have people all over the state who literally if they're gonna go buy a bottle of wine have to go behind bulletproof glass to go do it. That's not fair and so all this is simply saying is I hear the people from around the state."
But now, it appears the governor is not going to push Maryland legislators to change the law, saying it’s not going to be a top priority this session — a big disappointment for some Maryland residents.
"I grew up in Anne Arundel County and in Anne Arundel County we could buy hard liquor in the grocery store," one Maryland resident said. "I think it's a convenience and I think it's a wonderful idea and should be available anywhere anybody wants."
"I love beer and wine and I'm here almost every day and there is no beer and wine around here. You can go to the liquor store but you have to buy warm beer there so I would say come on governor, help us out here," said another.
Those opposed to making beer and wine easier to buy in Maryland say it would make alcohol more accessible to young people or to theft, something Duncan says he understands.
"You have kids going to the grocery store and stealing it just to get high," Duncan said. "I don't support that that much, no."
Some people say it really makes no difference to them.
"It doesn't matter to me at all because I don't drink."
"I'm not a beer or wine drinker but I would think for most people if they want to get it, there are opportunities to get it elsewhere."
So what is the future hold on this issue? It's hard to tell but without the governor's full-throttle support, it's not likely to happen this year.