Leonardtown, MD –  License holders and operators, C.S. and Veena Chawla of the well-known packaged goods and convenience store ‘Stop ‘N Shop’ located on Great Mills Road in Great Mills were called to appear before the Alcohol and Beverage Board (ABB) of St. Mary’s County for the second time. Stop and Shop failed to appear at the Jan. 12 meeting to address the violation charge of distribution of tobacco products or paraphernalia to a minor that took place in November 2016 during a compliance check.

After the facts were read in the case, Chawla agreed with each statement. Chawla said, “I admit, yes. I am sorry.” Chawla was fined $500 payable within 10 days, 30 days to file an appeal and on probation for three years. It was noted that Stop N Shop received a previous violation for the sale to a minor in September 2015, however, according to members of the ABB it is “only considered if another occurs in that three-year period,” confirmed Board Attorney Jim Tanavage.  

A position paper in opposition to new legislation which allows specialty licenses for salons and art establishments was developed by the St. Mary’s Licensed Beverage Association and distributed to the ABB about a month ago. Dave Dent, president of the St. Mary’s Licensed Beverage Association attended the Feb. 9 ABB meeting to discuss the 2017 legislative proposal (drafted by Delegate Deb Rey) for the creation of alcohol licenses for beauty salons and art establishments. Dent and two other supporters spoke at great length against the current legislation and requested that the ABB send letters in opposition of these bills to the County Commissions of St. Mary’s and the House of Delegates. “It is our opinion, sometimes new legislation creates unintended consequences,” said Dent. He said there is already a pathway for these types of groups and there is no need for more specialty licenses. 

A business like Wine and Design has a license that would work for other art establishments, he said. “So, since there is already a pathway why make new legislation if there is already a system in place,” said Dent.

The Licensed Beverage Association does not agree with distributing these types of licenses to businesses that were not designed to be in the business to sell alcohol. They strongly believe that this will “Create more paperwork, put more stress on staff, etc.,” said Dent.

On Jan. 31, at the meeting of the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County a motion was passed to send a letter in support of the alcohol legislation proposed by Rey.

Board Administrator Tammy Hildebrandt stated the renewals for business alcohol licenses have all been mailed and any business that has not received their renewal letters should contact her office at 301-475-7844 ext. 1600.

A few months prior, the ABB requested Board Administrator Hildebrandt compile a spreadsheet of the administrative fees charged for application fees, renewal fees, violation fees, license class etc. for the other counties throughout the State of Maryland. Before fees could change on the ABB, new legislation would have to be drafted and passed.

Hildebrandt also said she has received many phone calls and inquiries about some incorrect information pertaining to giving away and free alcohol. “First, there is no free alcohol. I don’t know where this is coming from, but businesses can’t raffle it off or give it away as a gift,” she said.

Contact Shertina J. Mack at s.mack@TheBayNet.com.