Booze With Takeout, Delivery Allowed During Coronavirus Outbreak

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Restaurants can now sell beer and wine for takeout and delivery in Montgomery County.

The county's Board of License Commissioners passed a resolution that will temporarily allow restaurants with on-premise alcohol licenses to sell sealed containers of beer and wine with delivery and carryout meals. Liquor is not included in this resolution, according to county officials, and third-party delivery services — such as Grubhub and Uber Eats — cannot participate.

The decision comes less than a week after Gov. Larry Hogan (R) shut down restaurants, bars, movie theaters, and gyms in an effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus. The resolution will expire when the governor's emergency order to close restaurants is lifted.

According to Montgomery County's Alcohol Beverage Services department, this temporary license amendment is meant to help local businesses weather the economic slowdown.

"This measure is designed to try and slow down the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease by deterring community members from gathering in public places while supporting local hospitality businesses," said Bob Dorfman, director of the Alcohol Beverage Services.

According to county data, this resolution will impact approximately 900 restaurants that have on-premise liquor licenses.

Patrick Blinn, the chef and assistant manager of Brickside Food & Drink in Bethesda, on Thursday praised the resolution, saying it could help the restaurant financially and give people a sense of normalcy.

"It's difficult for us to stay open when most of the draw is for the bar," Blinn said in an interview with Patch. "Hopefully this can bring people to get food and beer and wine so they have a sense of normalcy."