Ch. 3                                       1994 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(4) It [shall] also [be] IS the policy of the State to tax alcoholic beverages
as provided in the Tax - General Article, and to deny to any political subdivision in this
State the power or authority, either by public general law or by public local law, to impose
any tax on distilled spirits, beer, wine and all other alcoholic beverages on and after July
1, 1955.

(b) (1) It [has been and shall continue] CONTINUES to be the policy of this
State to authorize the exercise of the powers and authority provided by this article for the
purpose of displacing or limiting economic competition by regulating or engaging in the
sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages or both in order to obtain respect and
obedience to law, to foster and promote temperance, to prevent deceptive, destructive,
and unethical business practices, and to promote the general welfare of its citizens by
controlling the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages.

(2)     The officials and agencies granted powers and authority by this article to
regulate and engage in the alcoholic beverages industry may displace or limit economic
competition by regulating and engaging in the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages
or both on an exclusive basis as provided in this article and may adopt and enforce [rules
and] regulations authorized by this article notwithstanding any anticompetitive effect.

(3)     The powers granted to any official or agency pursuant to this subsection
[shall] MAY not be construed:

(i) To grant to the official or agency powers in any substantive area
not otherwise granted to the official or agency by other public general or public local law;

(ii) To restrict the official or agency from exercising any power granted
to the official or agency by other public general or public local law or otherwise;

(iii) To authorize the official or agency or officers of the agency to
engage in any activity which is beyond their power under other public general law, public
local law, or otherwise; or                                                                               

(iv) To preempt or supersede the regulatory authority of any State
department or agency under any public general law.

DRAFTER'S NOTE:

This section is amended to clarify language.

2.

(A) (1) [For the purposes of this article and unless otherwise required by the
context:] IN THIS ARTICLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE . MEANINGS
INDICATED.                     

[(a)] (2) "Alcoholic beverages" means alcohol, brandy, whiskey, rum, gin, cordial,
beer, ale, porter, stout, wine, cider, and any other spirituous, vinous, malt or fermented
liquor, liquid, or compound, by whatever name called, [containing one half] WHICH
CONTAINS ONE-HALF of one [per centum] PERCENT or more of alcohol by volume,
which is fit for beverage purposes.           

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