The Warm Beer Store

Just a rant about this county’s wack liquor laws.

• In some states, you can buy hard liquor at Target. A one-stop shop.
• In many states (including some parts of MD) you have to buy hard liquor at a special state-run outfit. But usually you can buy beer & wine at grocery stores and gas stations.
• In many parts of MD, you can’t buy beer or wine at the grocery store, but you can get it at a liquor store, which sells liquor, wine, and cold beer.

Which brings me to MoCo. If you want liquor, you must buy it at an ABS store. These places have inconvenient hours, and for some reason can’t or don’t sell cold beer. If you want cold beer, you can go to a small shop (bodega) that sells minimal groceries (with an absurd markup) along with a limited selection of cold beer, and wine. No liquor though, including canned cocktails.

So if I’m having a party, I have to make 3 different stops for groceries, cold beer, and liquor. Because of this, I’ve taken to buying booze in neighboring Howard County, or crossing into DC. Beyond the inconvenience, I’m wondering why the bodega can sell beer but Giant and Safeway can’t. I’m bothered by how illogical all this is, and am wondering if anyone has any insight into where in the county laws it says bodegas can sell cold beer but no one else can. Or maybe someone can tell me why it’s set up like this.

Anybody want a warm one?