'To-Go' Cocktails Back In Baltimore County For At Least Two Years

TOWSON, MD —After just under two weeks of "to-go" cocktails being illegal in Baltimore County, the service will be allowed to resume, effective immediately, thanks to Monday's unanimous vote by the Baltimore County Board of Liquor Commissioners. The service has been extended for at least two years, the county has announced.

The carryout and delivery of alcoholic mixed drinks became legal during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Gov. Larry Hogan approved the service in order to help struggling restaurants and bars forced to shut down indoor dining.

However, in mid-June, Hogan announced he would withdraw emergency mandates and restrictions starting on July 1, due to falling numbers of COVID-19 cases. That meant an end to "to-go" cocktails at midnight on June 30.

But legislation passed earlier this year by the Maryland General Assembly gave local liquor licensing boards the power to authorize the allowance of restaurants, bars and taverns to sell and deliver "to-go" cocktails for two years.

Monday, the Baltimore County liquor commissioners did just that at their first scheduled hearing on the topic.

Late last month, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski had urged the liquor commissioners to extend "to-go" cocktails privileges, and he praised their decision on Monday.

"As we continue our recovery, we must do all we can to help our small businesses innovate and diversify their operations," Olszewski said. "This is another commonsense step to support the continued recovery of this hard-hit industry and we applaud the board's decision today."