[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6358879,"mediaKeyId","2210868-4e3ac13806c01118037f5322e4dd4969","parentId",2210868,"title","Votes at a glance: Alcohol and Beverage Board actions, Sept. 12, 2019","audioSeconds",6577,"startMs",73135,"endMs",6650655,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2210868-4e3ac13806c01118037f5322e4dd4969&start=73&end=6650","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2210868-4e3ac13806c01118037f5322e4dd4969/thumbnail_73135.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6358879/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-Alcohol-and-Beverage-Board-actions-Sept-12-2019","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358879-d8911ae4fc63207ab242d2819009da23/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205713&Signature=YMUk7j8pFNSZKYszoQKRq75CVa6tZDB-4bul6wnHBg83~Zcd0F8FQMU3G8WySp6DSndOtwsJIpBqTwnj~6gfPiqJmXH6PAaB0vSP5YjEnuGTilene9PBizt2lpxjpUMy83gAv8bFPTIxN1osuZIOG41NHlR8sGH1Eu8KG-lOBG4~9CJoP6zYqC2trjieq2ynfJLvEmlSCFcV6aeyC48HeTa718EO30i7q94fVrtUwiWTME4RdcgYw2cJ3Z50q6SPhNP1hZ6zYQsfv6zzQ9WNVWVAuzvv342hm78SmAqcBu6e3tbn~wYhaEvT22aZ8zv6U-ahJUipjEPEhxHMOEp8Lg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-02-01T18:42:51Z","article","At its Sept. 12 meeting the St. Mary's County Alcohol and Beverage Board took several formal actions on licensing, extensions and premise changes. All recorded motions carried unanimously unless noted.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes: Motion to adopt the minutes of the Aug. 8, 2019 meeting — approved (voice vote: all in favor). The minutes approval was made and seconded during the meeting’s opening.

- Pier 450 (Peggy Benzel): Motion to grant a 90-day extension of conditional approval for Pier 450 (applicant Peggy Benzel) — approved (voice vote: all in favor). Applicant testified on progress with off-site septic permitting and estimated possible spring opening; board granted the 90-day extension.

- Old Town Pub (John McDonald, Joseph Drury, Jason Burrows): Motion to grant a 90-day extension of conditional approval for Old Town Pub — approved (voice vote: all in favor). Applicant Joseph Drury said interior construction is substantially complete but inspection scheduling delayed; the board approved the extension.

- Sweetbay Restaurant and Bar (Peter Vincent Lupo, Susan Lawrence Dyer, Charles Herbert Johnston Jr.): Motion to grant conditional approval for purchase of a Class B (restaurant) beer, wine and liquor license, subject to use-and-occupancy, health department and fire marshal approvals; request for extension of premises (outdoor seating) was struck from the current application — approved (voice vote: all in favor). Approval is a 90-day conditional authorization.

- The Rex (Joseph Curley, Charles Breck, Daniel Norris): Motion to grant a temporary extension of premises for liberal use to accommodate an anticipated large crowd for a special event sept. 28 (10 a.m.) to sept. 29 (2 a.m.) — approved (voice vote: all in favor). Applicants described use of sidewalk seating with town-provided cones and barriers.

- Bridal Garden (Geraldine/Jodine LaRue): Motion to grant a temporary extension of premises for Oktoberfest on Oct. 5, 2019, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., conditioned on fire marshal approval and any fire-related capacity limits — approved as amended (voice vote: all in favor). The board required fire marshal sign-off for the interior assembly aspects and noted a suggested limit of 99 occupants pending marshal determination.

- Patuxent Lodge trade-name change (L.O.O.M. #2393): Motion to approve deletion of Russell Clay Bennett and addition of Charles Spencer Martin Jr. on the lodge’s trade-name/manager list — approved (voice vote: all in favor).

Procedural notes: For several items the board approved 90-day conditional authorizations tied to required agency sign-offs (health department, fire marshal, use-and-occupancy). Where applicants requested an extension of premises (outdoor seating platform), the board either deferred that portion pending town approvals or required applicants to withdraw that portion and reapply later to avoid holding up interior inspections and licensure.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","9/12/2019 Alcohol Beverage Board","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal motions taken by the St. Mary's County Alcohol and Beverage Board at its Sept. 12 meeting, including extensions of conditional approvals, premise changes and a trade-name update.","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6358884,"Board hears enforcement update; county warns against CBD in cocktails and reviews tobacco age change",293,2333275,2626475,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2210868-4e3ac13806c01118037f5322e4dd4969&start=2333&end=2626","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2210868-4e3ac13806c01118037f5322e4dd4969/thumbnail_2333275.jpg","/articles/6358884/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-hears-enforcement-update-county-warns-against-CBD-in-cocktails-and-reviews-tobacco-age-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358884-dca8baa6716e168f2a2905d90b74d5b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205713&Signature=hAQxMHxjV3YZzEGSS2P0zMEEYfZYvYGmrGDp4VVIpaMefeUZb2BBmj51ggp0E7S5pPpXKkq0JfSboUXiSmV3hbgDRsWnBmgTq3M2RBrWAiZXrnARyIZp9Is1XkKg-~u9iMthkeuckXCNOFyrWghXsEFRBNhAbPP5kuWjXHFkvGg1IOtuvj1LTYKZuyzuQGaAmNY3EeNg872AVQZnRWFoi-4v9li9v5~ZnPEG-957GGzoy6l4h3d0sNCfzErYU35GahVZ4nZqKrox0adymGCkPOZa-eAHGV9aAMjevHhh1x63MoV5XK0mVK0i2hqXJL5li505Num6Evn1P7Syp-dhHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board administrators and enforcement staff on Sept. 12 briefed the Alcohol and Beverage Board on recent compliance activity and on guidance related to cannabidiol (CBD) products and tobacco-sales changes.

Sergeant C. Myers, the county alcohol enforcement coordinator, reported alcohol compliance checks and tobacco compliance results to the board: the county conducted ten alcohol checks (six documenting educational compliance) and twelve tobacco checks with no violations reported. The DUI arrest count for the reporting period was six, and enforcement staff attended multiple trainings and outreach events.

Board administration said the county had received inquiries from local licensees about CBD products and cocktails. Administrators cited a “white glove” testing report and Maryland Health Department guidance that — at the time of the meeting — did not allow CBD as an additive in food or drink, and therefore recommended licensees not add CBD to cocktails. The board said it would coordinate with the health department to circulate written guidance to licensees.

Representatives of the local beverage-retailer association reminded retailers that federal and state law increase the minimum age to purchase tobacco, e-cigarette and vape products to 21 effective Oct. 1, and that retailers should continue to card customers under 27. Participants discussed an active-duty military exemption that may permit sales to active-duty members if retailers choose to allow that exception; board members noted implementation questions about military identification forms and advised retailers to await detailed guidance from health and licensing authorities.

Board members said they would share guidance materials with licensees and encouraged caution pending clearer regulatory direction from state agencies and the Maryland comptroller’s office.","St. Mary's County staff reported zero violations in recent alcohol and tobacco compliance checks, and county officials warned licensees that CBD products may not be used as additives in food or cocktails under current Maryland health guidance. The board also heard reminders about the federal and state tobacco age change to 21 effective Oct. 1.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6358888,"Board debates social-host ordinance proposal; tables formal support pending drafted language",3206,3028225,6234435,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2210868-4e3ac13806c01118037f5322e4dd4969&start=3028&end=6234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2210868-4e3ac13806c01118037f5322e4dd4969/thumbnail_3028225.jpg","/articles/6358888/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-debates-social-host-ordinance-proposal-tables-formal-support-pending-drafted-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358888-5758e0ad7c06774f230d10a09d4345dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205714&Signature=KPqg5eCN4y0Rgn844SMac4GX3xEqgg0OIyvezmsMIsUCFDrFBuBKqSI9W71jjkYFihifxIl-qM6nFREBF28yNyXucOZqr8ixxy0fUtDTO4sALRV9r--HBSYdnMN2QIfBVHgudXquAPs5DUP8IUxmkmU7vS5GVVwxhEjrrddO8OKIvjL88Kxnh1RJXMDcFTWqfYbsndJsFsmlveCxSkwRLwMkZX2bTX9JwRXnxVGWmRJ4CzPKeSHV8bg2kXKjbopGkNxFUWagat6E4rAqdQo2m9VO9~ar9KVOXnNPc6UcvY7DyJZ3qlNHFep5lzgh~cDg7vsTqcF6Ncl-dko9cD4JTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Community Alcohol Coalition presented a proposal on Sept. 12 to create a local social-host ordinance that would add a civil-citation option to existing criminal penalties for adults who allow underage drinking on residential premises.

Coalition representatives told the board the intent is to provide law enforcement a simpler, civil citation option — akin to a traffic ticket — for certain incidents of underage or binge drinking that currently require criminal prosecution. The coalition cited other Maryland jurisdictions that have social-host rules and noted a state proposal had been introduced and later withdrawn.

Marsha Greenberg of the county health department said the ordinance’s public-health aim is to prevent underage drinking and to open opportunities for community education; she emphasized that the proposal is intended to supplement, not replace, education and prevention efforts.

Board members expressed multiple concerns about the proposal’s draft form and possible unintended consequences. Members questioned whether fines would be levied against absentee property owners, how the citation route would interact with district court processes, and whether the approach was tailored to St. Mary’s County’s largely non–college-town context.

Several members warned the proposal, as written in comparable ordinances elsewhere, could shift enforcement burdens to property owners who do not reside at or control a rented property and could create eviction or financial hardships unrelated to the conduct of the individuals who committed the offense.

After extended discussion the board voted to table consideration and asked the coalition to return with a written draft that addresses local concerns and specifies citation procedures, penalty levels and who receives citations. The board requested the coalition to bring revised language after county commissioners and the local legislative delegation have had an opportunity to review initial proposals.","The Community Alcohol Coalition presented a proposed social-host ordinance to make certain underage-drinking violations civil citations. Board members and county health representatives discussed scope and enforcement concerns and voted to table action until a draft ordinance and more information are available.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6358894,"Alcohol board grants conditional approval for Sweetbay Restaurant and Bar in Leonardtown",1155,362675,1517795,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2210868-4e3ac13806c01118037f5322e4dd4969&start=362&end=1517","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2210868-4e3ac13806c01118037f5322e4dd4969/thumbnail_362675.jpg","/articles/6358894/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Alcohol-board-grants-conditional-approval-for-Sweetbay-Restaurant-and-Bar-in-Leonardtown","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358894-e658a04233ae473184b6138c1c6db09a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205714&Signature=QKhcRoE8vmi6nOP7I7zqMzEj0MDE4xwrqCEHPYbwgTxs4yqjLFBCZMDD1denTThIFb-cDv5EHrMdES76wjuakHVKGiPng5hXclk3LNun8lXCCJjWwwf6O6YuZUOFIcIGd-hDKoydn78VNFqQZwhp28g82YXwuUGIimYXEnyWoEWvMUAiVlCfib4oMAYyoSvcVdwrhxkHXSR2-0rY6fpJisb97wk7WEyIHGmu0lDXWztaux7n0nG2b0cLUIc5hbp~KEwHxuEJzHsiXAP0oWo5Ca~5heHIrtThc9fXwUU8FsuEkCjQKRZdsXLpfdspqp2rqAxne6mCJ7buvQwYIOAAEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary's County Alcohol and Beverage Board on Sept. 12 granted conditional approval for Sweetbay Restaurant and Bar’s application to purchase a Class B (restaurant) beer, wine and liquor license for 22680 Washington Street in Leonardtown.

The board’s 90-day conditional approval requires the applicants to secure use-and-occupancy, the county health department sign-off and fire marshal approval before full licensure. Board members also removed the requested extension of premises for outdoor seating from the current application; applicants were told they may return later to seek that extension.

The applicants — Peter Vincent Lupo, Susan Lawrence Dyer and Charles Herbert Johnston Jr. — told the board they are renovating the building and plan an approximately 100-seat, locally focused restaurant. Peter Lupo described his work in Washington, D.C., saying, “We are an upscale dining establishment in general is what I do,” and said the concept will emphasize Maryland-sourced seafood and local breweries and distilleries.

Board members questioned applicants about prior liquor-related enforcement; Lupo acknowledged a past conviction roughly 12 years earlier in Virginia for a server-provided sale to a minor and said he accepted responsibility for that incident. Lupo told the board he currently holds four licenses in Washington, D.C., and said those locations had not had recent violations.

The board discussed the proposed outdoor seating and a town plan for a raised platform that would use two on-street parking spaces. Applicants told the board they had agreed to remove the premises-extension request from the current application to avoid delaying opening while they pursue town and county approvals for the outdoor platform.

The board’s motion granted a 90-day conditional approval subject to the stated agency approvals; the board noted applicants may return to seek a separate approval for the exterior seating later.

The board did not record any opposing votes during the motion; the motion carried with all members present voting in favor.

Sweetbay’s applicants and their contractor described a full interior rebuild, with new equipment and a wine cellar area intended for private events. Applicants said they anticipate opening in mid-November but acknowledged timing remains contingent on inspections and agency approvals.

The board advised applicants to coordinate with the town on the platform plan and with county agencies on health and fire approvals before opening.","The St. Mary's County Alcohol and Beverage Board granted a 90-day conditional approval for Sweetbay Restaurant and Bar’s Class B (beer, wine and liquor) license. The board struck the outdoor-premises extension from the current application; health, fire marshal and use-and-occupancy approvals remain required.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Alcohol and Beverage Board actions, Sept. 12, 2019

Board hears enforcement update; county warns against CBD in cocktails and reviews tobacco age change

Board debates social-host ordinance proposal; tables formal support pending drafted language

Alcohol board grants conditional approval for Sweetbay Restaurant and Bar in Leonardtown