§ 8-312.1. St. Mary's County

   (a) License authorized. -- The Alcoholic Beverages Board of St. Mary's County may issue a special wine festival (WF) license.

(b) Qualifications. -- Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, an applicant for a special WF license shall be a holder of an existing retail alcoholic beverages license issued in the State authorizing the sale of wine, a State Class 3 winery license, or a State Class 4 winery license issued under this article.

(c) Restrictions or display and sale of wines. -- A holder of a special WF license shall only display and sell wine:

   (1) That is:

      (i) Manufactured and processed in any state;

      (ii) Price filed in accordance with regulations adopted by the Comptroller; and

      (iii) Distributed in the State at the time the application is filed;

   (2) At retail for consumption on or off the licensed premises on the days and for the hours designated for the festival; and

   (3) That is manufactured and processed in any state at retail for consumption off the licensed premises on the days and hours designated for the festival.

(d) Fee. -- The license fee is $ 15.

(e) Holding other licenses not prohibited. -- This section does not prohibit the holder of a special WF license from holding another alcoholic beverages license of a different class or nature.

(f) Time and location of festival. -- The Alcoholic Beverages Board of St. Mary's County:

   (1) Shall approve one weekend annually for the wine festival;

   (2) Shall approve a location in St. Mary's County for this festival that is not licensed under this article; and

   (3) Shall ensure that the primary focus of the festival is the promotion of Maryland wine.

(g) Regulations. -- The Alcoholic Beverages Board of St. Mary's County shall adopt regulations for carrying out this section.

HISTORY: 2002, ch. 36.