§ 8-210. Dorchester County.

   (a) "Board" defined. -- In this section, "Board" means the Board of License Commissioners of Dorchester County.

(b) Applicability. -- This section applies only in Dorchester County.

(c) Refillable container license. -- There is a refillable container license.

(d) Requirements. -- The Board may issue a refillable container license to a holder of an alcoholic beverages license that is a:

   (1) Class B beer license;

   (2) Class B beer and light wine license;

   (3) Class B beer, wine and liquor license;

   (4) Class D beer license;

   (5) Class D beer and light wine license; or

   (6) Class D beer, wine and liquor license.

(e) Authority conferred. -- Subject to subsection (f) of this section, a refillable container license entitles the holder to sell draft beer for consumption off the premises in a refillable container with a capacity of not less than 32 ounces and not more than 128 ounces.

(f) Restrictions on display or shelving. -- In areas of the licensed premises that are accessible to the public, a holder of a refillable container license may not display or provide shelving for beer for consumption off the premises.

(g) Requirements for containers. -- To be used as a refillable container, a container shall:

   (1) Be sealable;

   (2) Be branded with an identifying mark of the license holder;

   (3) Bear the federal health warning statement required for containers of alcoholic beverages under 27 C.F.R. 16.21;

   (4) Display instructions for cleaning the container; and

   (5) Bear a label stating that:

      (i) Cleaning the container is the responsibility of the consumer; and

      (ii) The contents of the container are perishable and should be refrigerated immediately and consumed within 48 hours after purchase.

(h) Application; fee. -- Before the Board issues a refillable container license, the applicant shall:

   (1) Complete the form that the Board provides; and

   (2) Pay an annual license fee of:

      (i) $ 500 for an applicant whose alcoholic beverages license does not have an off-sale privilege; or

      (ii) $ 50 for an applicant whose alcoholic beverages license has an off-sale privilege.

(i) Advertising, posting of notice, and public hearing requirements. -- An applicant for a refillable container license that holds an alcoholic beverage license without an off-sale privilege shall meet the same advertising, posting of notice, and public hearing requirements as those for the alcoholic beverages license that the applicant holds.

(j) Term. -- The term of a refillable container license issued to a successful applicant is the same as that of the alcoholic beverages license that the applicant holds.

(k) Hours of sale. -- The hours of sale for a refillable container license:

   (1) Begin at the same time as those for the alcoholic beverages license already held by the person to whom the refillable container license is issued; and

   (2) End at midnight.

(l) Refills of branded containers only. -- The holder of a refillable container license may refill only a refillable container that was branded by the license holder.

(m) Regulations. -- The Board may adopt regulations to carry out this section, including limiting the number of refillable container licenses that may be issued in the County.

HISTORY: 2013, chs. 446, 447.