The Maryland Senate has decided by a vote of 36-10 that in the eyes of the law hard cider and malternatives should be defined as beer.
Cider and drinks like Smirnoff Ice are already taxed at the same rate as beer. The change to the law means that grocery and convenience stores would be allowed to sell the products. Both are in the same range of alcohol content as beer.
Before it becomes law the bill must be passed by the Maryland House and signed by Gov. Martin O'Malley. Some opposed to the bill claim that it will encourage underage drinking.
2 comments:
Hmm. This is interesting, as MOST grocery stores and convenience stores in Maryland don't sell any sort of alcohol. The few that do are, I believe, under some sort of grandfather clause.
Kinda funny that they're trying to pass a law that affects so few.
No grocery stores or convenience stores in Maryland may sell liquor; and only one store per any particular grocery chain in the state may sell beer and wine.
The proposed law is a tax thing. It would maintain the rate on malternatives at the same level as on beer, rather than increasing it to that of distilled spirits.
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