Governor Wes Moore of Maryland recently expressed support for expanding beer and wine sales to grocery stores but signaled that he is not planning to pursue this issue further due to strong political resistance and a lack of interest from other lawmakers. At the Eye on Annapolis summit on the opening day of the 2025 General Assembly session, Moore stated that this issue would not be a priority for his administration. Despite his stance, he encouraged legislators to listen to public opinion on the matter, which has consistently favored broader access to alcohol at grocery stores.
Moore acknowledged the influence of the liquor lobby but emphasized that Marylanders have voiced their desire for more convenient access to beer and wine, particularly when doing their regular grocery shopping. He noted that this has been a long-standing opinion among the state’s residents and considered it a reasonable one. His support for the idea has not been without controversy, however, as it has met significant resistance from local beer and wine retailers, who argue that expanding sales to grocery stores would harm their businesses.
The Maryland state has banned the sale of beer and wine in grocery and convenience stores since 1978, with certain exceptions for stores that had preexisting liquor licenses. Jack Milani, the head of the state association representing liquor stores, argued that allowing larger grocery chains to sell alcohol would lead to a reduction in business for small, locally-owned stores. He suggested that such a move would ultimately benefit big corporations at the expense of small businesses.
Governor Moore’s comments indicate that he is not willing to expend significant political energy to push the alcohol sales issue, especially as the state faces a budget deficit that will dominate the legislative session. Senate President Bill Ferguson also downplayed the urgency of expanding alcohol sales, stating that given the budget crisis, lawmakers would likely focus on resolving financial issues rather than alcohol policy changes. With a $3 billion deficit looming, the focus for the session is expected to remain on more pressing budget matters.
Delegate C.T. Wilson, the chair of the House Economic Matters Committee, also expressed skepticism about the proposal. He argued that the expansion of alcohol sales would harm small businesses and potentially increase the ease with which minors could access alcohol. His stance reflects a broader concern that introducing more alcohol sales into communities may have negative consequences. As the 2025 legislative session progresses, it appears that the issue of expanding beer and wine sales to grocery stores will not be a major focus for Maryland lawmakers.