# Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis (GAB)

## Title 22. Harford County

### Subtitle 27. Prohibited Acts

#### Section 22-2701

(a) The following sections of Title 6, Subtitle 3 ("Prohibited Acts") of Division I of this article apply in the county without exception or variation:

  (1) Sec. 6-305 ("Proof of age for sale of alcoholic beverages");

  (2) Sec. 6-306 ("Defense to prosecution for sale to underage individual");

  (3) Sec. 6-307 ("Selling or providing alcoholic beverages to intoxicated individual");

  (4) Sec. 6-309 ("Allowing on-premises consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages by individual under the age of 21 years");

  (5) Sec. 6-310 ("Providing free food");

  (6) Sec. 6-311 ("Restrictions on purchases and sales by retail dealer");

  (7) Sec. 6-312 ("Beverage misrepresentation");

  (8) Sec. 6-313 ("Tampering with alcoholic beverage container");

  (9) Sec. 6-314 ("Sale of alcoholic beverage container with detachable metal tab");

  (10) Sec. 6-315 ("Alcoholic beverage in container without regular label presumed illicit");

  (11) Sec. 6-316 ("Maximum alcohol content");

  (12) Sec. 6-317 ("Multiple serving purchase required");

  (13) Sec. 6-320 ("Disorderly intoxication");

  (14) Sec. 6-321 ("Consumption of alcoholic beverages in public");

  (15) Sec. 6-323 ("Possession or use of Alcohol Without Liquid machine");

  (16) Sec. 6-326 ("Sale of alcoholic beverages in powder or crystalline form prohibited");

  (17) Sec. 6-327 ("Unlicensed out-of-state sale of alcoholic beverages");

  (18) Sec. 6-328 ("Tax evasion");

  (19) Sec. 6-329 ("Destruction of evidence"); and

  (20) Sec. 6-330 ("Perjury").

(b) The following sections of Title 6, Subtitle 3 ("Prohibited Acts") of Division I of this article apply in the county:

  (1) Sec. 6-304 ("Selling or providing alcoholic beverages to individual under the age of 21 years"), subject to Sec. 22-2702 of this subtitle;

  (2) Sec.Sec. 6-308 ("Allowing on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages not purchased from license holder") and 6-319 ("On-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages not purchased from license holder"), subject to Sec. 22-2703 of this subtitle; and

  (3) Sec. 6-322 ("Possession of open container"), subject to Sec. 22-2704 of this subtitle.

#### Section 22-2702

A license holder may not be found guilty of a violation of Sec. 6-304 of this article if the license holder establishes to the satisfaction of the finder of fact that the license holder used due caution to establish that the individual was not under the age of 21 years.

#### Section 22-2703

A person may possess alcoholic beverages on the premises of a license holder if:

(1) the alcoholic beverages are owned by a member of a club licensed for the sale of beer and wine or beer, wine, and liquor and are consumed on the premises;

(2) the alcoholic beverages:

  (i) have been brought on the premises of an on-sale restaurant for consumption and use in a private dining room at a private gathering; and

  (ii) have not been provided by the license holder of the restaurant; or

(3) a dance or social event is:

  (i) held on the premises of an establishment of a holder of a Class C license; and

  (ii)

    (1) advertised as being bring your own (BYO); or

    (2) sponsored by a member of the club or by a guest that a club member sponsors.

#### Section 22-2704

An individual may possess an alcoholic beverage in an open container on private property described under Sec. 6-322(a)(1) of this article only if the individual possesses and presents the written consent of the owner of the property.

#### Section 22-2705

(a) In this section, "knowingly" means the knowledge a reasonable individual would have under ordinary circumstances based on the habits, appearance, or personal reputation of an individual.

(b) A license holder or an employee of a license holder may not knowingly sell or provide an alcoholic beverage to a habitual drunkard.

(c) A license holder who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to:

  (1) for a first offense, a fine not exceeding $50; and

  (2) for each subsequent offense, imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or a fine not exceeding $100 or both.

#### Section 22-2706

(a) A license holder who operates a pool or billiard parlor on the licensed premises may not allow an individual under the age of 18 years, unless accompanied by a parent, to enter into or loiter about the part of the premises devoted to the playing of pool or billiards.

(b) After a public hearing, if the Board determines that a license holder or an agent or employee of the license holder has violated this section, the Board may impose:

  (1) for a first offense within the licensing period:

    (i) a fine not exceeding $2,000; or

    (ii) suspension or revocation of the license; or

  (2) for a subsequent offense within the same licensing period as the first offense:

    (i) a fine not exceeding $2,000; and

    (ii) suspension or revocation of the license.

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