“Opinion: Maryland’s temporary liquor laws helped save businesses, and that’s good for all” – Washington Post

Len N. Foxwell, a strategic consultant, was chief of staff to the Maryland comptroller from 2008 to 2020.

In 2020, Maryland was among several states to relax their alcohol distribution and retail laws because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Having worked with the administration of Gov. Larry Hogan (R) to craft the executive orders that suspended prohibitions on the carryout and direct delivery of alcohol from restaurants and the arcane and inexplicable limits on sales at craft breweries, I believe the continuation of these temporary policies would be good for the state.

Untested theories and personal anecdotes from opponents can insinuate a causal relationship. To be sure, some will attempt to make those connections in the coming months in an effort to curtail or eliminate these vital relief measures. However, there is no statistical evidence whatsoever to confirm that alcohol consumption and binge drinking increased as a direct result of the steps that were taken to save local businesses during an unprecedented crisis…

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