It’s still a no-go on to-go booze in Worcester County. Businesses had been allowed to sell alcohol to-go under Governor Larry Hogan’s COVID-19 state of emergency order. When that expired on July 1st, so did take out. A decision made by the county this week has Ocean City restaurants divided.
Green Turtle Manager Stephen Pappas says he has money going to waste in carry out cocktail cups he can no longer sell.
“I’m stuck with all this extra product that I’m trying to push and it’s really hard,” Pappas says. “I have ten cases of lids and now I don’t really need that many and the fact that people come in thinking we can still do it and we have to tell them ‘no I’m sorry, we’re not allowed anymore, so that’s a whole issue trying to explain ourselves.”
Janice Machen says where she lives in Montgomery County, Maryland, restaurants are still selling drinks to-go. She was surprised when she got to Ocean City and found out that alcohol is now only for customers who dine in.
“It’s kind of a bummer for the people who just want to walk and be social on the boardwalk,” Machen says.
You boozers really need to give it up. Larry Hogan is an idiot
This is not ALL. Many merchants refuse carryout orders via in person or telephone. Some, like I are regulars. We will remember come Fall.
I can’t speak for take out alcohol but I can speak about take out service for food.
Particularly at the north end and Fenwick, some businesses have chosen to make new rules that would avoid them from servicing any carry out. It wasn’t that long ago that take out was the only game in town. The Fenwick Crabhouse informed me yesterday that their policy (with a sign stating “somewhere” ) stated that they do NOT accept walk in carry out customers. Some (Rippons) close their carry out kitchen early or not every day. Even others tell carry out customers that they don’t accept carry out phone orders after a stated time. (Captain Macs).
I guess it’s a safe gamble but what are their plans after the tourists go home? I know what my plans will be.