Dorchester County - Alcoholic Beverages - Venue Beer, Wine, and Liquor License
Summary
HB564 creates a new “venue beer, wine, and liquor license” for Dorchester County. The license is designed for nonprofit or for-profit venues that host weddings, banquets, parties, meetings, and similar events, whether private or open to the public, and that meet minimum size, capacity, and restroom requirements. It authorizes the sale or service of beer, wine, and liquor for on-premises consumption during events at the venue, but only when food is also provided. The license is not transferable to another location, and the annual fee is set at $1,500.
The bill also amends Dorchester County’s local alcohol licensing rules to allow this new venue license to be issued even when the venue is within 300 feet of a church or school, so long as each affected place of worship or school gives written consent. The license follows the hours and days applicable to a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license, and the county board of license commissioners is authorized to adopt regulations to implement the new category. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
HB564 changes the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article as it applies only to Dorchester County by adding a new local license category and creating a specific exception to the county’s general 300-foot distance restriction from schools and places of worship. It gives the Dorchester County Board of License Commissioners new authority to issue and regulate venue-based alcohol licenses for event spaces that meet the statutory criteria, expanding the types of establishments that may lawfully serve alcohol at catered or hosted events.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial in the legislature. It passed the House on third reading by a vote of 138-0 and the Senate on third reading by a vote of 47-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The absence of committee transcript material also suggests there was little recorded public dispute or debate in the available record.
Contention
The main policy issue in the bill is the balance between expanding alcohol service opportunities for event venues and preserving protections around schools and places of worship. The bill addresses that concern by requiring written consent from any nearby church or school within 300 feet before the venue license may be issued. Another practical point is that the license is limited to venues meeting specific size, occupancy, and restroom standards and can only be used when food is served, which narrows its application to larger event-oriented businesses rather than ordinary bars or restaurants.