Diners at fine restaurants in the Baltimore region can now enjoy a glass of their favorite fruit of the vine and take home the rest.
The General Assembly passed a bill allowing restaurant patrons to carry home a partially consumed bottle of wine as long as the bottle has been corked or capped by restaurant staff.
A recorked bottle of wine is still subject to existing open container laws, so the bottle would have to be stored in the trunk or glove compartment for the trip home. If signed by Gov. Robert Ehrlich, the law would take effect July 1.
Proponents including the Restaurant Association of Maryland said the bill would end the dilemma for customers of either finishing the bottle or wasting money. About half of states already allow wine carryout from restaurants under similar circumstances, said Melvin Thompson of the Restaurant Association of Maryland. His group pushed for the bill after hearing from restaurants that their wine sales might go up if people felt more comfortable buying bottles.
“Most customers shy away from buying wine by the bottle because they don?t feel they can consume the whole thing and drive home safely,” Thompson said.
“We believe that this will discourage overdrinking and also help restaurants sell more wine by the bottle. I think legislators realized this is a great idea.”
The sponsor of the bill, Democratic Sen. Ida Ruben of Montgomery County, said drunken-driving opponents also favored the bill.
“It just struck me this might be another way to stop people from consuming too much before driving,” Ruben said. “People buy a very expensive bottle of wine, and they feel like they have to finish it before they leave because they paid for it. So now they wouldn?t feel compelled to finish it.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
