Title
A RESOLUTION CONCERNING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - LICENSES FOR RETAIL GROCERY ESTABLISHMENTS for the purpose of stating a policy by the Prince George’s County Council and requesting that the Prince George’s House and Senate delegations of the Maryland General Assembly support local legislation allowing the Board (“the Board”) of License Commissioners for Prince George’s County to issue a Class A beer and wine license to establishments in the Board’s jurisdiction to sell beer and wine to individuals who are twenty-one (21) years old or older.
Background
The proposed legislation establishes a process to sell light wine and beer in grocery establishments. Often times, Prince George's residents must visit neighboring jurisdiction's to purchase beer and light wine. For the purposes of identifying access points to fresh food, a food retailer may be defined as a retail establishment that offers for sale food products in at least five of the following six categories: (1) fresh fruits and vegetables, (2) fresh and uncooked meat, poultry, and seafood, (3) dairy products and (4) canned foods, (5) frozen foods and (6) dry groceries and baked goods. Moreover, statistics show that Prince George's County has been hardest hit by the pandemic health wise are the same places where the County has the least access to primary care physicians and general health care. These areas are the same places to have the least access to healthy food. Lastly, grocers may be attracted to local supermarkets if they also sold beer and light wine, providing a one-stop shopping experience.