3134                                                VETOES

House Bill No. 855 - Anne Arundel County Alcoholic

Beverages

AN ACT concerning

Anne Arundel County — Alcoholic Beverages

FOR the purpose of providing that persons of a certain
age have certain rights with respect to beer and
light wine in Anne Arundel County, and providing for
employment of minors over a certain age by holders
of retail alcoholic beverage licenses in Anne
Arundel County, and clarifying the language.

May 31, 1974.

Honorable John Hanson Briscoe
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the
Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed House Bill
855.

This bill provides that in Anne Arundel County
persons 18 years of age or older have certain rights in
regard to beer and light wine and further prohibits any
person under age 21 from being employed as a bartender by
the holder of any retail or wholesale alcoholic beverage
license, with a certain exception.

Senate Bill 1, which was enacted by the General
Assembly and signed by me on May 31, 1974, is a statewide
comprehensive law lowering the legal age from 21 to 18
years for both the consumption and possession of beer and
light wine and for employment in establishments serving
these beverages. The purpose of House Bill 855 is thus
achieved by the enactment and signing of Senate Bill 1.

In addition, the Attorney General has advised me
that House Bill 855, while dealing with the same subject
matter as Senate Bill 1, does so in terms not wholly
consistent with the provisions of Senate Bill 1, and that
it is impossible to reconcile and give effect to the
provisions of both bills. A copy of the Attorney
General's Opinion is attached to this message and should
be considered part of it.