Title
A RESOLUTION CONCERNING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - LICENSES FOR GROCERY STORES for the purpose of stating a policy by the Prince George’s County Council and requesting that the County support local legislation allowing the Board (“the Board”) of License Commissioners for Prince George’s County to issue beer and wine licenses to all grocery stores in the Board’s jurisdiction to sale beer and wine to individuals who are twenty-one (21) years old or older.
Background
The proposed legislation establishes a process to sell wine and beer in grocery stores. In 1979, a law was established in Prince George's County to prohibit the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores including high end grocery establishments. This legislation would incentivize premium all grocery chains; including but not limited to, Giant, Safeway,Wegmans, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods to establish locations in Prince George's County; thereby brining quality grocery chains to the County. Moreoever, it would increase consumer convenience, keep revenue in the County, align with neighboring jurisdictions, support local beer and wine producers. Permitting grocery stores to sell beer and wine would provide more shelf space for local breweries and wineries, boosting visibility and sales for the County based producers. Lastly, it would demonstrate modern policy adaptation by updating the County's alcohol policies to allow beer and wine sales to reflect a commitment to modernization and responsiveness to consumer preference and market trends. Most importantly, the legislation would promote retail development in the underserved and marginalized communities of the County. Therefore, this resolution would help Prince George’s County attract new investments, improve the quality of life for all residents, and support the local economy.