Bill being pushed to keep alcohol takeout, delivery

PANDEMIC.

CARRY OUTALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES HELPEDMANY KEEP THE DOORS OPEN.

SOMELAWMAKERS WANT THAT TOCONTINUE AFTER THIS PANDEMICIS BEHIND US.

BUT NOT EVERYONEIS FULLY ON BOARD.

WMAR 2NEWS'S DON HARRISON TELLSABOUT THIS NEW PROPOSAL.A lot of things have changedduring this pandemic and oneof them is being able to usecarry out as an option for notonly food, but liquor as well.Now some lawmakers want tomake this a law.

SenatoShelly Hettleman, representingBaltimore county is tsponsor of that bill.

We thinkit's been working well, therehaven't been abuses that we'veheard of, so we want to helpthe small business personwell as the consumer.

Asproposed, the bill would allowrestaurants and bars to selland deliver certain alcoholicbeverages for off-premesisconsumption.

This may be doneif the alcoholic beveragepurchased along with preparedfood other than prepackagedsnacks.

To make sure onlythose 21 or older receive thedelivered alcohol, onlylicensed restaurant employeesare allowed to make thedelivery, not a 3rd partydelivery service like DoorDash or Uber eats.

Therestaurant associationapproves of this bill, bowners of package good storeswe talked to were not asenthusiastic about otherbusinesses taking awaycustomers that might useliquor store.

This has been afinely tuned compromise.

Westill got a couple of detailsto work out, but this issomething we've been workinon together.

Some liquor storeowners understand the need foralcohol take out to help thestruggling restaurantbusiness, but they would liketo see the law go back to theway it was before thepandemic.

The bill would limitthe hours up to 11 pm andlocal liquor boards must giveapproval to to the restaurantor bars.

Those with concernsabout drinking and driving saythis is just another way tomake it easier to get alcoholin the car.

There is nothingin this bill that changes thepenalties around drunkdriving.

We need to holdpeople accountable that areabusing and getting behind awheel.

A similar bill will beintroduced in the house aswell.

A hearing is scheduledfor Friday the 18th.

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