Ch. 502

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(ii) 1. As a prerequisite for the initial issuance of a license under
this subsection, the owner shall attest in a sworn statement that gross receipts from food
sales in the restaurant or hotel will be at least equal to the gross receipts from the sale of
alcoholic beverages.

2. As a prerequisite for each renewal of a license issued under
this subsection, the owner shall attest in a sworn statement that the gross receipts from
food sales in the restaurant or hotel for the 12-month period immediately preceding the
application for renewal have been at least equal to the gross receipts from the sale of
alcoholic beverages.

3. The Board by 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.

4. Any regulations adopted by the Board shall include a
requirement of at least monthly physical inspections of the premises during the initial
license year of any licensee and 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.

5. In the event that a licensee, during the initial license year,
fails to maintain the. sales ratio requirement provided in this paragraph 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.

(iii) 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.

(iv) 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.

(v) The annual license fee is $2,500.

(3) (i) There is a special Class B license known as Class B-BWL (H-M)
which shall be issued only for hotels and motels that meet the minimum requirements set
forth in subsection (a)(3) of this section. All of the privileges and restrictions provided for
in paragraph (2) of this subsection are applicable to this special Class B license except
that the gross receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages may not exceed the gross
receipts from the sale of food, and registered guests may be served in their rooms. In any

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