Ad Hoc Committee on Liquor Control (LC)
Jurisdiction: Policies, practices and systemic issues related to the County's Department of Liquor Control and its alcohol distribution to restaurants and retail beer and wine stores. The Committee will review, evaluate and make recommendations about alternative service delivery models and alcohol regulations and policies.
Maryland State law establishes the framework and structure for alcohol control systems in Maryland counties, and Montgomery is no exception. The Ad Hoc Committee on Liquor Control may make recommendations to the Council that will require state action before implementation.
Members: Hans Riemer, Chair; George Leventhal, Council President; Marc Elrich
LC Committee Worksession Documents
- Resolution to support reforms to improve the Department of Liquor Control operations and expand choice for consumers and businesses (pdf)
- Worksession Packet - June 19, 2015 (pdf)
- Worksession Packet - June 12, 2015 (pdf)
- Worksession Packet - May 8, 2015 (pdf)
- Worksession Packet - March 27, 2015 (pdf)
- Worksession Packet - March 20, 2015 (pdf)
- Worksession Packet - March 6, 2015 (pdf)
- Worksession Packet - February 27, 2015 (pdf)
- OLO Report 2015-6: Review of Alcohol Control in Montgomery County- 2/10/2015 (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
In the News
- Bethesda Magazine report: "Seven Things to Know about the County’s Plan to Partially Privatize Liquor Distribution," July 31, 2015
- ABC 7 report: "Montgomery Co. to possibly change liquor laws," July 29, 2015
- Bethesda Magazine report: "Council Agrees On Partial Privatization of Liquor Control, But Some Want More," July 28, 2015
- Bethesda Magazine report: "Restaurant Owners Speak out in Support of Privatizing Portion of Liquor Control Department," July 23, 2015
- NBC4 Report: "Partial Privatization of Montgomery Co. Alcohol Sales Discussed," July 21, 2015
- Bethesda Magazine report: "County Council Members to Proceed with Partial Privatization as Liquor Control Department Implements Improvements," June 22, 2015
- NBC4 Report report: "Lawmaker Skeptical of DLC’s Plan to Fix Problems," June 19, 2015
- NBC4 Report: "Beer Bust: Is Montgomery County Liquor Control Getting Worse Instead of Better?," May 7, 2015
- Bethesda Magazine report: "DLC Management, Controls Criticized at Latest Liquor Control Committee Meeting," March 27, 2015
- NBC4 report: "'Sticky Notes' Used to Track Liquor Inventory," March 27, 2015
- NBC4 report: "Liquor Control 'Completely Broken Down'," March 20, 2015
- NBC4 report: "Another Employee Fired for Stealing Alcohol," March 13, 2015
- MCM report: "Council Schedules More Discussion on Issues at Department of Liquor Control," March 13, 2015
- FOX 5 report: "Push to change how alcohol is sold in Montgomery County," March 11, 2015
- Takoma Park supports ending County alcohol sales monopoly
- NBC4 Washington’s coverage of first Ad Hoc Liquor Control Committee meeting, Feb. 27, 2015
- Committee Begins Look at Liquor Control Reform, Bethesda Beat, Feb. 27, 2015
- NBC4 Washington, Montgomery County Getting Out of the Beer Business, Feb. 10, 2015
Meeting Videos
- Videos of the committee meetings and public hearings can be viewed live through our online streaming site and can be viewed on-demand 24 hours after the meeting concludes. View Committee Videos
County Report This Week : Story on OLO Report
Committee Meeting Dates
All meetings held from 9:30 a.m - 12 noon at 3rd floor hearing room.
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- DLC Action Plan
- Follow up - inventory and ordering system
- Historical perspective - “Temperance in Montgomery County” by Montgomery County Historical Society
- Follow up - OLO Report 2015 - 6: Review of Alcohol Control in Montgomery County
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- Implementation of DLC's new ordering and inventory system
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- OLO follow-up Items
- Discussion with public health and public safety officials
- Office of Legislative Oversight review of Dept. of Liquor Control, private sector pricing and survey results
- Discussion with licensees, distributors and manufacturers
- Office of Legislative Oversight review of legal environment and current Dept. of Liquor Control operations
- Presentation from Inspector General on Preliminary Inquiry Memorandum and update on ongoing investigation
- Discussion with Dept. of Liquor Control and UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO
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- Opening remarks from Councilmembers
- Office of Legislative Oversight Report 2015-6: Review of Alcohol Control
- Discussion with Executive Branch