BEER, WINE & LIQUOR TASTING LICENSE
BEER, WINE & LIQUOR TASTING LICENSE - In Washington County this bill applies to a holder of any class of license who currently hold a BWL license. The Board will issue a yearly beer, wine & liquor tasting license, upon request, to any licensee who meets the above requirements. Annual license fees are stated below and are effective from July 1st to June 30th of each calendar year and are not rolled over to the next calendar year. Hours – The hours of sale for Tastings: Begin and end, as the same hours held by the license holder. Scope of license: The Board of License Commissioners may issue a tasting license to permit on premises consumption of beer, wine & liquor for tasting or sampling purposes only to a holder of any class of license who currently hold a BWL license. The holder of a beer, wine & liquor tasting license may not charge for the tastings. The licensing shall notify the Board in writing at least 10 days in advance of any scheduled tastings. Multiple tastings are permitted on the same day and are considered multiple tastings. Licensees are permitted to post a sign advertising a beer, wine & liquor tasting with the day of the tasting event posted thereon. However, this sign can only be posted TEN (10) DAYS PRIOR TO THE EVENT and must be PROMPTLY TAKEN DOWN AT THE CLOSE OF THE TASTING. Licensee must submit a Tasting Event Notification BLC Form #25 to the office of the Board of License Commissioners for Washington County for a single, or multiple tastings held per event date, either by mail or fax 301-797-4599 or email to the admin@wcliquorboard.com, ten (10) days prior to the event. If the license holder does not follow these guidelines a $50.00 fine will be imposed.
This rule shall also apply to newspaper advertisements and other media advertising with regard to the upcoming event. Banners are allowed to remain up if they state a specific day each month, such as the 2nd Saturday of every month, however they must imply that the licensee is having a tasting every week. The licensee must follow the guidelines as stated below, per product served.
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BEER: A beer tasting event shall consist of a wholesale/supplier presenting various beers from a single brand owner. The retail beer tasting licensee may use each beer tasting event for as many different beers from that brand owner as they choose as long as each wholesaler and each brand is in compliance with State laws. The contents of each bottle may not be mixed with any other bottle, and all bottles shall be destroyed once they are empty. Servings of the various beer are limited to no more than TWO OUNCES of anyone beer to any one customer.
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WINE: A wine tasting event shall consist of a wholesale/supplier presenting various wines from a single brand owner, except a Maryland winery. The retail wine tasting licensee may use each wine tasting event for as many different wines from that brand owner as they choose as long as each wholesaler and each brand are in compliance with State laws. The contents of each bottle may not be mixed with any other bottle, and all bottles shall be destroyed once they are empty. Servings of the various wines are limited to no more than TWO OUNCES of anyone wine to any one customer.
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LIQUOR: A liquor tasting event shall consist of a wholesaler or supplier presenting various liquor from a single brand owner. The retail liquor tasting licensee may use each liquor tasting event for a Maximum of (4) Four Bottles of Liquor from that brand owner as long as each wholesaler and each brand is in compliance with State laws. The contents of each bottle may not be mixed with any other bottle, and all bottles shall be destroyed once they are empty. Servings of the various liquors are limited to no more than ONE OUNCE OF A SINGLE LIQUOR TO A SINGLE CUSTOMER. Tasting may not exceed 4 Hours.
Annual Fee:
72 Beer, Wine & Liquor Tasting License - $1,100.00
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Effective April 17, 2024