Concerns over how beer, wine in grocery stores could impact small businesses

MARYLAND- Senate Bill 603 is turning some heads. The Maryland bill would give people the opportunity to decide if they want beer and wine served in their grocery stores. The Sponsor of the bill, Senator Cory McCray, said there’s a couple of reasons he’s pushing this. One, is to help these businesses economically.

“That don’t have the luxury of having a super market, where the supermarket or grocery establishments say that they face economic challenges where this can be a driver of revenue,” Senator McCray said.

Another, solving the issue of food deserts in neighborhoods. Senator McCray said by creating more economic growth healthier food options can be available.

“The more that we can put a driver and focus on having supermarkets the basic function of having healthy food, which is something that everyone should have, when we start creatively thinking about this we are going to have a better by product,” Senator McCray said.

While Senator McCray is looking at this as a creative vehicle to solve these issues, the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Bill Chambers, has concerns.

“Other states that have allowed this on average, Colorado being one of the most recent states, seeing 30 to 40 percent losses in business for these small mom and pop retailers,” Chambers said.

Chambers said Maryland is dependent on small businesses, and by allowing these grocery stores to sell these same products it could do more harm than good.

“Stores will lose business, stores will have to cut employees and reduce employee hours,” Chambers said.

But, Chambers isn’t the only one saying this may not be the best route to take. Higgins Liquor Beer And Wine Store general manager told 47ABC while he loves to see other businesses succeed this may hurt others.

“Not everybody in Ocean City has a great big establishment they are running, there are a lot of small mom and pop places running around and it would definitely cut into their bottom line,” Ray Gawel, the general manager, said.

While the bill hasn’t been passed yet, Chambers said he wants to see a study commission put together, including small retailers to discuss how this legislation can be crafted in a way that wont hurt small businesses.