New Direct to Consumer Delivery Bill and Permit

Effective July 1, 2024, licensed Maryland breweries, wineries, and distilleries may now deliver their own manufactured alcoholic beverages directly to a Maryland consumer with a new Direct Delivery Permit. The new law replaces the temporary, pandemic-created delivery and shipping privileges under Maryland Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article (“ABCA”) §2-219.

Last month, Thomas R. Akras, Esq., ATCC Director, Legal and Legislative Division, met with several wine manufacturers at The Wine Collective, part of the thriving alcohol merchant and manufacturer community in the Union Collective in Hampden, to talk about the new regulation and answer questions.

What This Means for Manufacturers: 

• Eligible Maryland manufacturers may deliver their product within Maryland with an ATCC-issued Direct Delivery Permit, which is renewed annually.
• Any alcoholic product a licensed manufacturer produces and distributes may be delivered so long as they maintain a Direct Delivery Permit.
• Breweries and Distilleries may no longer use a common carrier for direct-to-consumer deliveries. Wineries may continue to ship their products via a common carrier to a consumer in Maryland, so long as they obtain and maintain a Direct Wine Shipper’s Permit.
• All delivery drivers must be employees of the manufacturer, at least 18 years of age, and certified by an approved alcohol awareness program.
• All deliveries must be made directly to the purchaser or an individual designated by the purchaser ( individual 21 or older) and not left “at the door.”
• The deliverer and purchaser must sign an official ATCC-issued Direct Delivery Form that certifies the deliverer examined the recipient’s government-issued identification and was at least 21 years old.

Questions? Call ATCC Licensing at 420-260-7314