Well actually some of them already do. But they are anomalies or grandfathered in. The vast majority cannot. Most people really do not give this much of a thought, but the application for a liquor store above the new Columbia Wegmans has really brought this issue to the forefront lately. Marylanders for Better Beer and Wine Laws does a great job of summarizing the controversy here. The money quote “Why do package good stores have any greater right to have their business protected than a five and dime? We have a capitalist marketplace. In every other industry, they have to deal with the competition. The booksellers have to deal with Amazon, Blockbuster has to deal with Netflix. Why do customers have to lose out?”
I believe that any store should be able to get a liquor license. Heck I should be able to get it shipped on the internet to my home. What do you think? I know a lot of people, especially in the southwestern part of our county, go to the Leesburg Wegmans or Costco. Wouldn’t Maryland rather have those tax dollars as well?