Title 31. Washington County — Subtitle 27. Prohibited Acts
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 31-2701 (2026)
Title 31. Washington County
Subtitle 27. Prohibited Acts
§ 31–2701LinkCopy Citation
(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)
§ 6–305 (“Proof of age for sale of alcoholic beverages”);
(2)
§ 6–306 (“Defense to prosecution for sale to underage individual”);
(3)
§ 6–308 (“Allowing on–premises consumption of alcoholic beverages not purchased from license holder”);
(4)
§ 6–309 (“Allowing on–premises consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages by individual under the age of 21 years”);
(5)
§ 6–310 (“Providing free food”);
(6)
§ 6–311 (“Restrictions on purchases and sales by retail dealer”);
(7)
§ 6–312 (“Beverage misrepresentation”);
(8)
§ 6–313 (“Tampering with alcoholic beverage container”);
(9)
§ 6–314 (“Sale of alcoholic beverage container with detachable metal tab”);
(10)
§ 6–315 (“Alcoholic beverage in container without regular label presumed illicit”);
(11)
§ 6–316 (“Maximum alcohol content”);
(12)
§ 6–317 (“Multiple serving purchase required”);
(13)
§ 6–319 (“On–premises consumption of alcoholic beverages not purchased from license holder”);
(14)
§ 6–320 (“Disorderly intoxication”);
(15)
§ 6–321 (“Consumption of alcoholic beverages in public”);
(16)
§ 6–323 (“Possession or use of Alcohol Without Liquid machine”);
(17)
§ 6–326 (“Sale of alcoholic beverages in powder or crystalline form prohibited”);
(18)
§ 6–327 (“Unlicensed out–of–state sale of alcoholic beverages”);
(19)
§ 6–328 (“Tax evasion”);
(20)
§ 6–329 (“Destruction of evidence”); and
(21)
§ 6–330 (“Perjury”).
(b)
Section 6–322 (“Possession of open container”) of Division I of this article does not apply in the county.
(c)
The following sections of Title 6, Subtitle 3 (“Prohibited Acts”) of Division I of this article apply in the county:
(1)
§ 6–304 (“Selling or providing alcoholic beverages to individual under the age of 21 years”), subject to § 31–2702 of this subtitle; and
(2)
§ 6–307 (“Selling or providing alcoholic beverages to intoxicated individual”), subject to § 31–2703 of this subtitle.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 31-2702 (2026)
Title 31. Washington County
Subtitle 27. Prohibited Acts
§ 31–2702LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A license holder or an employee of a license holder who is charged with a violation of § 6–304 of this article:
(1)
shall receive a summons to appear in court on a certain day to answer the charges placed against the license holder or employee; and
(2)
may not be required to post bail pending trial in any court in the State.
(b)
A license holder or an employee of a license holder may not be found guilty of a violation of § 6–304 of this article if the license holder or employee establishes to the satisfaction of the finder of fact that the license holder or employee used due caution to establish that the individual was not under the age of 21 years.
(c)
(1)
A violation for which a penalty is imposed under paragraph (2) of this subsection is a misdemeanor.
(2)
(i)
If an employee of a license holder violates § 6–304 of this article, the employee is subject to:
(1)
except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, for a first offense, a fine of $100;
(2)
except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, for a second offense, a fine of $250; and
(3)
for each subsequent offense, a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.
(ii)
If an employee does not pay within 30 days a fine imposed under subparagraph (i)1 or 2 of this paragraph, the employee is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.
(3)
If a license holder violates § 6–304 of this article, the Board may impose a fine not exceeding $2,500, suspend or revoke the license, or impose both a fine and suspend or revoke the license.
(d)
The granting of probation before judgment to a license holder or an employee of the license holder for a violation of § 6–304 of this article does not bar the Board from proceeding administratively against the license holder for the violation.
(e)
The Board may not proceed administratively against an employee of a license holder for a violation of § 6–304 of this article until after the employee is granted probation before judgment or found guilty of the violation.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 31-2703 (2026)
Title 31. Washington County
Subtitle 27. Prohibited Acts
§ 31–2703LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A license holder or an employee of a license holder who is charged with a violation of § 6–307 of this article:
(1)
shall receive a summons to appear in court on a certain day to answer the charges placed against the license holder or employee; and
(2)
may not be required to post bail pending trial in any court in the State.
(b)
The granting of probation before judgment to a license holder or an employee of the license holder for a violation of § 6–307 of this article does not bar the Board from proceeding administratively against the license holder for the violation.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 31-2704 (2026)
Title 31. Washington County
Subtitle 27. Prohibited Acts
§ 31–2704LinkCopy Citation
(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.