Maryland alcohol laws
Last Updated - April 15, 2021
Maryland Laws
Digital Driver's License is NOT acceptable as a form of I.D.
Must present physical (plastic) Driver's ID for you to examine
Delivery of Alcohol allowed since COVID:
* Must deliver to someone 21 years of age or older
* Recipient cannot be intoxicated - Refuse delivery and the sale
* Sealed container - making it difficult to help prevent drinking & Driving
* Training of the Delivery Personnel on Responsible Serving of Alcohol
* Lowering face mask to properly Identify the individual
* Checking I.D. to assure their age and identity.
* Delivery personnel have the "Right to Refuse" service
* Must delivery to an individual - Can't leave package on the porch or premise
* Purchase must be made at or through the Liquor Licensee
* Third party delivery personnel could affect your Liquor License
Bartender and Servers:
* You have a RIGHT to refuse service or sale if the purchaser doesn't follow your instruction for proving proper I.D.
* You may not over serve
* Preventing alcohol to be served from someone who isn't of legal age
* Making sure you don't serve someone who has a propensity to abuse alcohol
* Requiring someone to lower their mask for proper identity and keeping proper social distancing while doing so
Maryland Alcohol Law:
Anne Arundel:
A person eighteen (18) years of age or older may serve any alcoholic beverage while serving as a food service waiter or waitress in a restaurant.
(b) No person under the age of twenty-one (21) may act as a bartender, barmaid, waiter or waitress in any solely bar or lounge related capacity.
(c) No person under the age of twenty-one (21) may act as a package goods clerk. A person sixteen (16) years of age or older may work as a stock clerk stocking alcoholic beverages.
(d) No holder of a Class D license shall permit any person on the premises under the age of twenty-one (21) unless: 1. Accompanied by a parent, spouse or guardian of a lawful age; 2. For employment purposes or for the purpose of providing entertainment (which shall include singers and musicians); 3. Necessary for public accommodations other than for the purposes of obtaining alcoholic beverages, and only for the time necessary to accomplish same; or 4. By special written permission of the Board for good cause shown.
Alcohol may be sold:
Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. .
Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, the license holder may not sell beer, wine, or liquor after 2 a.m. on Sunday.
The Board may issue to the license holder a Sunday license that authorizes the sale of beer, wine, and liquor on Sunday according to terms that the license states.
Contact your Liquor Board Office for any differences according to your type of License
Caroline County:
AGE TO SELL – A person under age 18 may not be engaged in the sale, service, delivery or handling of alcoholic beverages. Any holder of a Class D, Beer, Wine & Liquor license, may not employ a person under age 21 in the sale of alcoholic beverages. A person between ages 18 and 21 may be employed in the sale, service, delivery or handling of beer and light wine. This is intended to mean that not even a family member under the age of eighteen (18) may be engaged in the sale or dispensing of alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol may be Sold:
Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Contact your Liquor Board Office for any differences according to your type of License
Cecil County:
A person eighteen (18) years of age or older may serve any alcoholic beverage while serving as a food service waiter or waitress in a restaurant.
(b) No person under the age of twenty-one (21) may act as a bartender, barmaid, waiter or waitress in any solely bar or lounge related capacity.
(c) No person under the age of twenty-one (21) may act as a package goods clerk. A person sixteen (16) years of age or older may work as a stock clerk stocking alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol may be sold:
Monday through Saturday 6:00 am until 2:00 am.
Sunday 8:00 am until 2:00 am.
Dorchester County:
A person eighteen (18) years of age or older may serve any alcoholic beverage while serving as a food service waiter or waitress in a restaurant.
(b) No person under the age of twenty-one (21) may act as a bartender, barmaid, waiter or waitress in any solely bar or lounge related capacity.
(c) No person under the age of twenty-one (21) may act as a package goods clerk. A person sixteen (16) years of age or older may work as a stock clerk stocking alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol may be sold:
Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1:45 a.m.
Sunday, from noon to midnight UNLESS Sunday falls on Christmas or New Years
Contact your Liquor Board Office for any differences according to your type of License
Kent County:
(A) Bartender is to be 21 years of age or older
(B) Cashier in Package/Convenience Store must be 21 years of age.
(C) INDIVIDUALS Under the age of 21 years of age are not permitted to serve/sell or pour with Class D (Tavern) license.
(D) An INDIVIDUAL age 18 -20 years may be employed to SELL/ DELIVER alcoholic beverages as part of the server capacity.
(E) AN INDIVIDUAL at least 18 years old to be employed to stock alcoholic beverages in a premise for which a CLASS A license is issued.
Alcohol may be sold:
Monday Through Sunday 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.
Queen Anne's County:
(A) Bartenders are to be 21 years of age or older and be Trained in TIPS
(B) Package store clerks/cashiers are to be 21 years of age or older
(C) AN INDIVIDUAL 18 - 20 years of age may be employed to SELL/serve ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
(D) AN INDIVIDUAL AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD MAY BE EMPLOYED TO:
STOCK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES in a premise for which a CLASS A license is issued;
Alcohol may be sold:
Monday thru Saturday between 6 am--2 am
Sunday between 8 am --2 am
New Year's until 4 am
Contact your Liquor Board Office for any differences according to your type of License
Talbot County:
No license holder shall allow a person to act in the capacity of a bartender who is not at least 21 years of age. For the purposes of this section, a “bartender” is any person who mixes or pours drinks for consumption on the licensed premises.
(2) No license holder shall allow a person to act in the capacity of waiter or waitress who is required to take orders for alcoholic beverages unless said waiter or waitress is at least 18 years of age.
(3) No license holder of a beer and light wine license shall allow a person to act in the capacity of a sales clerk authorized to sell or offer for sale beer or light wine at retail who is not at least 18 years of age.
(4) No license holder of a beer, wine and liquor license shall allow a person to act in the capacity of a sales clerk authorized to sell or offer for sale beer, wine or liquor at retail who is not at least 21 years of age.
All employees involved in the sale of alcoholic beverages shall successfully complete training in an Alcohol Awareness Program within one hundred eighty (180) days of the date of hire.
Alcohol may be sold:
Monday through Saturday, from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Sunday, for consumption on the premises, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The license holder may not sell beer, wine, or liquor at a bar or counter on Sunday.
Contact your Liquor Board Office for any differences according to your type of License
Somerset County:
A person eighteen (18) years of age or older may serve any alcoholic beverage while serving as a food service waiter or waitress in a restaurant.
(b) No person under the age of twenty-one (21) may act as a bartender, barmaid, waiter or waitress in any solely bar or lounge related capacity.
(c) No person under the age of twenty-one (21) may act as a package goods clerk. A person sixteen (16) years of age or older may work as a stock clerk stocking alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol may be Sold:
Monday through Saturday, from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Sunday, from 12:30 p.m. to midnight if food is available for purchase on the premises.
The license holder may not sell beer, wine, or liquor at a bar or counter on Sunday.
Contact your Liquor Board Office for any differences according to your type of License
Wicomico County:
A person eighteen (18) years of age or older may serve any alcoholic beverage while serving as a food service waiter or waitress in a restaurant.
(b) No person under the age of twenty-one (21) may act as a bartender, barmaid, waiter or waitress in any solely bar or lounge related capacity.
(c) No person under the age of twenty-one (21) may act as a package goods clerk. A person sixteen (16) years of age or older may work as a stock clerk stocking alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol may be sold:
Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Sunday, from 10 a.m. to midnight, only to customers who are seated at tables on the premises.
Contact your Liquor Board Office for any differences according to your type of License
Worcester County:
A person eighteen (18) years of age or older may serve any alcoholic beverage while serving as a food service waiter or waitress in a restaurant.
(b) No person under the age of twenty-one (21) may act as a bartender, barmaid, waiter or waitress in any solely bar or lounge related capacity.
(c) No person under the age of twenty-one (21) may act as a package goods clerk. A person sixteen (16) years of age or older may work as a stock clerk stocking alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol may be sold:
6-day license - Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
7-day license - Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday 12:30 pm - midnight
Contact your Liquor Board Office for any differences according to your type of License