# Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis (GAB)

## Title 19. Dorchester County

### Subtitle 13. Temporary Licenses

#### Section 19-1301

(a) The following sections of Title 4, Subtitle 12 ("Temporary Licenses") of Division I of this article apply in the county without exception or variation:

  (1) Sec. 4-1202 ("Per diem licenses");

  (2) Sec. 4-1206 ("License to dispose of stock");

  (3) Sec. 4-1207 ("Temporary move of licensed premises");

  (4) Sec. 4-1208 ("Hours and days of sale"); and

  (5) Sec. 4-1209 ("Wine permit for fund-raising event").

(b) The following sections of Title 4, Subtitle 12 ("Temporary Licenses") of Division I of this article do not apply in the county:

  (1) Sec. 4-1203 ("Class C per diem beer and Class C per diem beer and wine licenses"), which is superseded by Sec. 19-1309 of this subtitle;

  (2) Sec. 4-1204 ("Class C per diem beer, wine, and liquor license"), which is superseded by Sec. 19-1310 of this subtitle; and

  (3) Sec. 4-1205 ("License fees"), which is superseded by Sec.Sec. 19-1309 and 19-1310 of this subtitle.

#### Section 19-1304

(a) In this section, "festival" means a beer and wine festival in Dorchester County.

(b) There is a Dorchester County beer and wine festival (DBWF) license.

(c) The Board may issue the license to a holder of a retail license, Class 3 winery license, Class 4 limited winery license, Class 6 pub-brewery license, Class 7 micro-brewery license, or Class 8 farm brewery license.

(d) The license authorizes the holder to display and sell:

  (1) wine that is:

    (i) manufactured and processed in any state; and

    (ii) distributed in the State when the license application is filed; and

  (2) beer that is brewed by a brewer:

    (i) that brews less than 40,000 barrels of beer annually; and

    (ii) whose product is distributed in the State when the license application is filed.

(e) A license holder shall display and sell beer and wine:

  (1) at retail for on- and off-premises consumption; and

  (2) during the hours and days designated for the festival.

(f) The Board:

  (1)

    (i) may approve more than one festival each year to be held on a weekend, Friday through Sunday inclusive; and

    (ii) may not approve more than one festival for any one weekend;

  (2) shall approve a location that is not already licensed; and

  (3) shall ensure that the primary focus of a festival is the promotion of Maryland beer and wine.

(g) The license holder may hold another license of a different class or nature.

(h) Beer and wine displayed and sold shall be:

  (1) invoiced to the license holder by a wholesaler, Class 3 winery, or Class 4 limited winery; and

  (2) delivered to a festival from the licensed premises of the wholesaler, Class 3 winery, or Class 4 limited winery.

(i) A holder of a wholesale, Class 3 winery, or Class 4 limited winery license may enter into an agreement with the license holder to:

  (1) deliver beer and wine not earlier than 2 days before the effective date of the license; and

  (2) accept returns not later than 2 days after the expiration date of the license.

(j) The Board may set the license fee.

(k) The Board shall adopt regulations to carry out this section.

#### Section 19-1305

(a) There is a 1-day wine tasting (WT) license.

(b) The Board may issue the license to a holder of a Class A wine (W) license, beer and wine (BW) license, or beer, wine, and liquor (BWL) license.

(c) The license authorizes the holder to allow the consumption of wine for tasting if:

  (1) the license holder is authorized to sell the wine; and

  (2) the consumer is not charged for the wine.

(d) The Board may not require the publication of an application for a WT license before issuing the license.

(e) An individual may consume wine covered by the license in a quantity of not more than:

  (1) 1 ounce from each offering; and

  (2) 4 ounces from all offerings in a day.

(f) The license fee is $25 per day.

#### Section 19-1306

(a) There is a beer, wine, and liquor tasting (BWLT) license.

(b)

  (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Board may issue the license to a holder of a Class A license to hold tastings of beer, wine, or liquor.

  (2) A license holder may not hold tastings of any alcoholic beverages that the license holder is not authorized to sell under the holder's Class A license.

(c) The license authorizes the holder to allow the consumption of beer, wine, or liquor for tasting if:

  (1) the consumer is not charged for the beer, wine, or liquor; and

  (2) the beer, wine, or liquor is consumed on the premises of the holder of the Class A license.

(d)

  (1) An applicant for the license shall submit to the Board an application on a form that the Board provides.

  (2) The Board may not require the publication of a license application before issuing the license.

  (3) The Board may issue the license without a public hearing.

  (4) If an initial license application is denied:

    (i) the applicant may resubmit the application; and

    (ii) on request from the applicant, the Board shall hold a public hearing on the license application before determining whether to issue the license.

  (5) The license holder shall notify the Board in writing at least 7 days before the event at which the license is to be used.

  (6) Renewal of the license may be made when the holder's Class A license is renewed.

(e) An individual may consume beer, wine, or liquor covered by the license in a quantity of not more than:

  (1)

    (i) 3 ounces from each offering of beer; and

    (ii) 8 ounces from all offerings of beer in 1 day;

  (2)

    (i) 1 ounce from each offering of wine; and

    (ii) 4 ounces from all offerings of wine in 1 day; and

  (3)

    (i)

      (0) 5 ounces from each offering of liquor; and

    (ii)

      (1) 5 ounces from all offerings of liquor in 1 day.

(f) At the end of the day for which the license is valid, the license holder shall properly dispose of beer, wine, or liquor that remains in a container that was opened for tasting.

(g) The license fee is:

  (1) $150 for not more than 15 beer, wine, or liquor tastings per year; or

  (2) $250 for not more than 30 beer, wine, or liquor tastings per year.

#### Section 19-1309

(a) There is a Class C per diem beer and a Class C per diem beer and wine license.

(b) A holder of a Class C per diem beer license or a Class C per diem beer and wine license:

  (1) may cater an event conducted by a club at the place described in the license on the effective days of the license;

  (2) shall distribute at the event for which the license is issued a wristband to each individual who is at least 21 years old; and

  (3) may not serve an alcoholic beverage to any individual who does not wear the wristband.

(c) The fee for a Class C per diem beer license or Class C per diem beer and wine license is $25 per day.

(d) A person who violates this section is subject to:

  (1) for a first offense, a fine of $50; and

  (2) for a subsequent offense, a fine not exceeding $500 and denial of subsequent requests for a license for catering additional events.

#### Section 19-1310

(a) There is a Class C per diem beer, wine, and liquor license.

(b) A holder of a Class C per diem beer, wine, and liquor license:

  (1) may cater an event conducted by a club at the place described in the license on the effective days of the license;

  (2) shall distribute at the event for which the license is issued a wristband to each individual who is at least 21 years old; and

  (3) may not serve an alcoholic beverage to any individual who does not wear the wristband.

(c) The fee for the license is $35 per day.

(d) A person who violates this section is subject to:

  (1) for a first offense, a fine of $50; and

  (2) for a second offense, a fine not exceeding $500 and denial of subsequent requests for a license for catering additional events.

#### Section 19-1311

(a) The Board may issue a per diem license of any class that entitles the holder to exercise any of the privileges conferred by that class at an event held by a club.

(b) The license authorizes the holder to cater an event at the place described in the license on the days that the license is in effect.

(c) The Board may not require the publication of an application under this section as a prerequisite to the issuing of the license.

(d) An application for the license shall be:

  (1) completed on a form that the Board provides;

  (2) signed by the applicant; and

  (3) notarized.

(e) The fee is:

  (1) $15 per day for a beer license or beer and wine license; or

  (2) $25 per day for a beer, wine, and liquor license.

---

Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)