State Designations - State Cocktail - Original Maryland Orange Crush
Summary
SB 562 designates the original Maryland orange crush as the official State cocktail. The bill adds a new section to the General Provisions Article stating that the original Maryland orange crush is the State cocktail, and it also renumbers existing sections in that subtitle to make room for the new provision. The preamble notes that the orange crush cocktail originated in 1995 at the Harborside Bar and Grill in Ocean City, Maryland.
The bill is primarily symbolic and does not create a regulatory program, tax change, or licensing requirement. Its legal effect is to amend Maryland’s statutory list of state designations by adding a new official cocktail and adjusting section numbering in the General Provisions Article. The act takes effect June 1, 2025.
Impact
SB 562 amends the Maryland Code, General Provisions Article, by adding Section 7-313 to declare the original Maryland orange crush the State cocktail and renumbering existing Sections 7-313 through 7-319 as 7-314 through 7-320. The bill affects state symbolic designations rather than substantive rights or obligations, and its practical impact is limited to official recognition of a Maryland-originated beverage.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be noncontroversial and ceremonial in nature. The bill’s framing suggests a positive, celebratory sentiment toward Maryland’s coastal and tourism identity, especially Ocean City and the drink’s local origin. No opposition or divided vote is reflected in the available materials.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. If any concerns were raised, they are not captured in the available committee transcripts or voting history. In bills of this type, any disagreement would likely center on whether the General Assembly should create another state symbol or whether the designation is merely symbolic, but no such objections are shown here.