Franchot reverses position, wants alcohol sales in Maryland grocery stores

Comptroller Peter Franchot wants Maryland to join a majority of the U.S. and allow beer and wine sales in all grocery stores, marking a reversal from a previous stance he had on the issue as recently as last fall.

The Democratic comptroller said in an interview this week with the Business Journal that the move to legalize alcohol sales in supermarkets would "provide a shot in the arm" to local craft brewers, an industry he has been seeking to reform for more than a year.

The comments are drawing praise from the Maryland Retailers Associationand shock from the Maryland State Licensed Beverage Association.

Maryland law currently restricts most retail beer sales to liquor stores, with a few exceptions. Four grocery chains in Montgomery County have one store each that sells beer and wine under a grandfather clause. Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester and St. Mary's allow grocery stores to sell beer and wine. Prince George's County allows each corporation to have one location that sells beer and wine.

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