WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 229

have been in excess of two times the gross receipts from the sale
of alcoholic beverages. The board of license commissioners by
rule and regulation shall provide for periodic inspection of the
premises and for audits to determine the ratio of gross receipts
from the sale of food to gross receipts from the sale of
alcoholic beverages. Any rules and regulations adopted by the
board shall include a requirement of (i) at least monthly
physical inspections of the premises during the initial license
year of any licensee and (ii) the submission by the licensee to
the board, during the initial license year, of monthly statements
showing gross receipts from the sale of food and gross receipts
from the sale of alcoholic beverages for the immediately
preceding month. In the event that a licensee, during the
initial license year, fails to maintain gross receipts from the
sale of food at least twice those from the sale of alcoholic
beverages for a period of three consecutive months or after the
initial license year for each license or calendar year, the
board, in its discretion, may revoke the license. The board may
require any licensee to provide supporting data as it, in its
discretion, deems necessary, in order to establish that the
requirements of this section relating to the ratio of gross
receipts from the sale of food to those from the sale of
alcoholic beverages have been met. For the purposes of this
section the term "dining area" means the area occupied by patrons
for the purpose of the consumption of food. It may include also
a cocktail area where food need not be served if there is no
separate outdoor entrance to the cocktail area. A license issued
under this subsection authorizes its holder to keep for sale and
sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises only,
and alcoholic beverages may not be served to patrons or consumed
at any bar, counter without seats, or other room but in the
dining area. However, the seats in the cocktail area may not
exceed 25 percent of the seats normally available for the general
public in the dining area, including the cocktail area portion,
but excluding special banquet and private party facilities.

(2) Signs visible from the exterior of the building,
advertising the sale of alcoholic beverages, are not permitted in
connection with any restaurant or hotel holding a license issued
under the provisions of this section except for the display of
the menu then in use by the licensee.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of
Maryland read as follows:

Article 2B - Alcoholic Beverages

19.

(r) (3) The annual license fee for this license is [$2,000]
$2,500.

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