Maryland Alcohol Related Laws and Regulations

Where to Buy Alcohol
Convenience and grocery stores are not able to sell beer or wine. Instead of state-owned stores, alcoholic beverages are sold in private retail stores, but overall, this rule varies depending on which county an individual is in. The hours and days in which alcohol can be sold are at the discretion of local laws.

Legal Age for Drinking/Serving Alcohol
At 21 years of age, an individual can legally consume alcohol or be employed at a job where they handle, transport, or sell alcohol in a liquor store. At 18, a person can be employed as a server in a restaurant that sells alcohol or is able to sell wine and beer in stores.

Open Container Laws
All previously opened containers of alcohol must be transported in the trunk of a vehicle, as no one in the vehicle is allowed to consume alcohol.

BAC Limits
The legal blood-alcohol content (BAC) in Maryland is .08 percent. Over this level, a driver is considered ‘per se intoxicated’ and may be charged with DUI (driving under the influence); no further proof is needed.

Drivers under the age of 21 may be charged with DUI if they are found to have a BAC of .02 percent or higher. This law is to discourage underage drinking and driving.

In many states drivers with exceptionally high BAC receive harsher punishments, but this is not the case in Maryland.

Penalties
If a driver does not comply with an officer’s request to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test to determine their level of intoxication when they are suspected of being under the influence, they can face penalties due to ‘implied consent laws.’

When a driver refuses chemical testing, the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) can impose a mandatory penalty for 60 days for the first offense and 12 days for the second offense.

A driver convicted of DUI cannot have their vehicle confiscated or be required to receive alcohol education. However, the installation of an ignition interlock device is an option.