Maryland’s alcohol laws underwent significant updates in 2024, easing home delivery while maintaining strict controls on sales, happy hours, and shipping.
Home Delivery Rules
Licensed retailers and restaurants can deliver alcohol via third-party services like DoorDash or Uber Eats in approved counties, requiring ID verification for recipients over 21 and annual $1,000 permits for drivers. Breweries, wineries, and distilleries hold Direct Delivery Permits for their products, mandating employee deliveries (no common carriers for beer/distilled spirits) with signed age certification forms.
Happy Hour Regulations
Happy hours are permitted statewide but capped at 4 hours daily (2 consecutive on weekdays), with bans on “all-you-can-drink” deals, free alcohol, or happy hours after 10 p.m. in many counties; promotions must include food purchases.
Shipping and Sales Limits
Out-of-state wineries ship directly, but beer and spirits face barriers—a 2026 federal ruling blocked Maryland’s brewery shipping law favoring in-state producers. Off-premise sales end at midnight for beer/wine (2 a.m. liquor in some areas), with Sunday sales allowed since 2021.
SOURCES
[1](https://www.wmar2news.com/local/new-maryland-law-makes-alcohol-delivery-easier-using-third-party-vendors)
[2](https://atcc.maryland.gov/resources/updates/newsletter/new-direct-to-consumer-shipping-bill-and-permit-2/)
[3](https://about.doordash.com/en-us/news/bringing-responsible-alcohol-delivery-to-maryland)
[4](https://www.parkstreet.com/states/maryland/)
[5](https://thedailyrecord.com/2026/01/07/federal-judge-blocks-maryland-beer-shipping-law/)
