A Lower Shore lawmaker is raising a toast to the iconic Orange Crush, with a bill pending in Annapolis that would designate it as the state’s official cocktail.
Del. Wayne Hartman introduced the legislation in response to Delaware’s summer 2024 declaration that the Orange Crush was the First State’s official adult beverage.
“The fact that there was all the fanfare, nobody stood up to say, ‘hey, this belongs to Maryland.’ Theres a lot of talk already about it, a lot of excitement. This is one of those things we have fun with, show our Maryland pride, and set the record straight,” Hartman said Wednesday. “This is the right bill to pass this year.”
Hartman’s bill has the support of the Maryland Tourism Coalition, a trade association for all sectors of the tourism industry. Executive Director Ruth Toomey said if the bill passes, she’ll make the Orange Crush the group’s signature drink during summer conferences.
“It’s a fun bill. We’ve had a really crazy fast-moving session, so we’re looking forward to having the Orange Crush bill presented,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for all the bars and liquor distributors to really have fun with it, some fun marketing campaigns to attract visitors and tourists, not just to Ocean City but around the state.”
states going to hell in a handbasket and this is what they aer spending time on!