Bill
SB 802
Dorchester County may issue a new venue license allowing eligible event venues to sell and serve beer, wine, and liquor on-site during events with food.
Status and effective date
- Enacted as Chapter 821; approved by the Governor May 20, 2025.
- Takes effect July 1, 2025.
- Cross-filed with HB 564.
Purpose
- Creates a new, locally‑limited alcoholic beverage license — a “venue beer, wine, and liquor license” — for Dorchester County to allow qualifying event venues to sell and serve beer, wine, and liquor for on‑premises consumption during events where food is provided.
Key provisions
- License type: Venue beer, wine, and liquor license (added to the Dorchester County portion of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article).
- Issuing authority: Board of License Commissioners for Dorchester County may issue the license to nonprofit or for‑profit retail businesses that host weddings, banquets, parties, meetings or similar private or public events.
- Venue eligibility requirements:
- Venue size of at least 2,000 square feet;
- Capacity to accommodate at least 100 individuals for a single event (indoors or outdoors on the premises);
- Adequate bathroom facilities.
- Authorized use:
- Sale/serving of beer, wine, and liquor at retail (by the drink or bottle) for on‑premises consumption only during events hosted by the licensee at the licensed venue;
- Alcohol may be sold/served only when food is also provided during the event.
- No carrying alcohol onto or off the licensed premises.
- Hours of sale: Governed by the same hours/days set for a Class B on‑sale beer, wine, and liquor license (i.e., standard restaurant/banquet hours under existing local statute).
- Transferability: License is not transferable to another location.
- Proximity to schools/places of worship: The county’s 300‑foot proximity prohibition (measured in a direct line) remains, but a venue license may be issued within 300 feet if the Board receives written consent from each place of worship or school located within that distance.
- Fee and regulation:
- Annual license fee set at $1,500.
- Board may adopt implementing regulations.
Who is affected
- Dorchester County Board of License Commissioners (administration, rulemaking, issuance).
- Nonprofit and for‑profit venue operators that meet the size, capacity, and facility requirements — e.g., barns, halls, farms, and other event venues — who may gain the ability to serve full alcoholic beverages at events.
- Nearby schools and places of worship (their written consent can permit issuance within 300 feet).
Fiscal and operational impact
- State fiscal effect: None.
- Local fiscal effect: Potential increase in Dorchester County revenues beginning in FY 2026 from license fees; the Department of Legislative Services notes the county can handle any additional enforcement with existing resources.
- Small business impact: Minimal statewide fiscal effect but potentially meaningful for individual venues that can newly offer beer, wine, and liquor at events.
Implementation notes
- The Board of License Commissioners will develop procedures and regulations to implement the new license type.
- Effective July 1, 2025 — venues can apply after that date in accordance with county rules.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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