Almost 40 liquor store owners and residents protested a proposal before the Carroll County Liquor Control Board to remove the cap on the number of liquor store licenses it permits.
“Anywhere in Carroll County, you only have to drive 10 minutes to buy carry-out liquor,” Westminster resident Stanley Serrao said at Wednesday?s board meeting.
“And if that?s too long to wait, then you need a 12-step program.”
The Liquor Board, which consists of a retired State Police lieutenant colonel, a former assistant state controller and a retired real estate broker, is considering a plan to abolish the cap limiting the number of liquor, beer and wine store licenses to 1 for every 5,000 people in a voting district.
Board attorney Timothy Burke said axing the cap could increase competition and give consumers more choices.
But liquor store owners said removing the cap would hurt businesses and allow liquor, beer and wine stores to open everywhere.
Board President Romeo Valianti said that most recently, 10 people have requested licenses, but only two are available in Hampstead and Uniontown.
Valianti, who opposes getting rid of the cap, said the board considers changing the rule every few years.
He said he was on the board in 2003 when it decided not to abolish the cap after hearing public testimony, but the population has grown since then.
Commissioner Perry Jones said he is against removing the cap.
“The increased competition is going to run poor mom-and-pop stores out of business, because they won?t be able to keep up with the Rite-Aids and other convenience stores,” he said.
The board will allow 30 days for the public to weigh in on the proposal and will most likely vote on it in August.
