# Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis (GAB)

## Title 33. Worcester County

### Subtitle 25. Unlicensed Establishments

#### Section 33-2501

(a) A person may not serve setups, including drinking containers and ice, or serve, keep, or allow to be consumed alcoholic beverages or other component parts of mixed alcoholic drinks in a place of adult entertainment that:

  (1) does not hold a license under this article; and

  (2) allows at its location any form of sexual display or attire prohibited under Sec. 4-605 of this article.

(b) A person who operates a business establishment for profit that is not licensed under this article may not knowingly allow a customer to bring alcoholic beverages for consumption into the establishment.

(c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both.

#### Section 33-2502

(a) From 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. on any day, an individual may not consume alcoholic beverages in:

  (1) an establishment open to the public;

  (2) a place of public entertainment; or

  (3) a place at which setups or other component parts of mixed alcoholic beverages are sold under a license issued under the Business Regulation Article.

(b) An owner or a manager of an establishment or a place specified in subsection (a) of this section may not knowingly allow consumption of alcoholic beverages between the hours specified in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $4,000.

#### Section 33-2503

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section and elsewhere in this article, a person may not consume alcoholic beverages at any time on any day of the week in a restaurant, tavern, hotel, club, dance studio, disco, and any other place of public entertainment.

(b) Exempt from subsection (a) of this section are:

  (1) the room of a registered guest in a hotel, motel, or hospice;

  (2) the property of a volunteer fire company;

  (3) a fishing club established before January 1, 1970; and

  (4) if it has been in existence for at least 3 years:

    (i) a catering establishment;

    (ii) a community or civic association;

    (iii) a swim club;

    (iv) a social, civic, nonprofit, charitable, fraternal, patriotic, educational, or public service organization; and

    (v) a religious institution.

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

(d) An owner, a manager, or an employee of an establishment or a place subject to the prohibitions of this section who knowingly allows consumption in violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine not exceeding $10,000.

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