WASHINGTON – Residents of Damascus, Md. soon may be able to stay in town to sip some alcohol.
Maryland state Sen. Karen Montgomery (D-Montgomery County) hopes to introduce a bill that would allow table sales of wine and beer at restaurants in Damascus, which has been dry for more than 80 years.
The Gazette reports the bill will be introduced in January and if passed by the state legislature, will be on the Damascus ballot next year.
“And it’s up to the residents of Damascus on whether or not they want to have this happen,” says Delegate Craig Zucker (D-Montgomery County), who agreed to co-sponsor the bill.
Randy Scritchfield, president of the Damascus Community Alliance, is in favor of the prohibition repeal.
“We have had many businesses say that they would bring a nice restaurant to town if they could have beer and wine on the menu,” Scritchfield says.
But opponents say it’s a slippery slope — allowing alcohol sales would change the character of the town.
“It started out the same way in Kensington, with beer and wine in restaurants and then it grew to all sale, package sales, carry-out,” resident Gary Richard says.
Kensington repealed its ban on alcoholic beverage service in restaurants in 2000, the Gazette reports.
A public hearing on the bill will be held Dec. 5 in Rockville.
WTOP’s Evan Haning contributed to this report. Follow Evan and WTOP on Twitter.
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