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<section article="gab" article_name="Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis" number="22-2501" title_number="22" title_name="Harford County" subtitle_number="25" subtitle_name="Unlicensed Establishments">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section and otherwise provided in this article, a person may not knowingly allow the consumption, possession, or transfer of alcoholic beverages in an establishment that is a restaurant, tavern, hotel, club, dance studio, disco, or place of public entertainment if:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the establishment is not licensed by the Board;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the person possesses or controls the establishment as owner, lessee, or user; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>the establishment is:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>open to the public or licensed by the State; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>licensed by the State or a county unit other than the Board.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The prohibition under subsection (a) of this section does not apply to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the room of a registered guest in a hotel, motel, or hospice; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the property of:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>a volunteer fire company;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>a catering establishment;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>a community or civic association;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>a swim club;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>a social, civic, nonprofit, charitable, fraternal, patriotic, educational, or public service organization; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>a religious institution that has been in existence for at least 3 years.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Board may exempt a place similar to one listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection on a case–by–case basis.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Board shall adopt regulations to administer this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>An owner, a manager, or an employee of an establishment subject to the prohibitions of this section who knowingly allows the prohibited consumption in violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.</text>
  </level>
</section>
