Yes, you can buy Everclear in Maryland, but not every version. Maryland bans the retail sale of any alcoholic beverage at or above 95% alcohol by volume, which is 190 proof, so the full-strength 190-proof bottle is off the shelves. The 120-proof and 151-proof versions sit below that line and are sold at Maryland liquor stores.1Justia Law. Maryland Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Code 6-316 – Maximum Alcohol Content
Which Everclear Versions Maryland Stores Carry
Everclear comes in three strengths. Two are legal to sell in Maryland, one is not.
- 120 proof (60% ABV). The most widely stocked version. Sits well below the state limit and is commonly used for homemade extracts, tinctures, and infusions.
- 151 proof (75.5% ABV). Still under the 190-proof cutoff. Maryland stores can and do carry it.
- 190 proof (95% ABV). Banned from retail sale statewide. You will not find it on any Maryland shelf.
If a clerk tells you Everclear is flat-out illegal in Maryland, they’re conflating the brand with its strongest version. The brand itself is legal; only the 190-proof bottle is restricted.
The Law Behind the Ban
Maryland Code, Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Section 6-316 prohibits any retailer from selling an alcoholic beverage with an alcohol content of 95% by volume or more.1Justia Law. Maryland Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Code 6-316 – Maximum Alcohol Content Governor O’Malley signed the measure in 2014 after it cleared both chambers of the General Assembly, with lawmakers pointing to binge-drinking concerns among college-aged drinkers.
The threshold is 95% ABV, nothing lower. Spirits up to 189 proof remain legal to sell, which is why 151-proof rum, cask-strength bourbon, and 151-proof Everclear all stay on the shelf. The statute reaches only retail sale, so possessing a bottle of 190-proof grain alcohol in your home is not itself a crime under this section.
Bringing 190-Proof Everclear Into Maryland From Out of State
Because the ban is on retail sale, people sometimes ask whether they can simply buy a bottle in a state where 190-proof is legal and bring it home. Maryland’s personal import rules make that difficult.
A person 21 or older may personally carry in one quart of legally manufactured alcohol at a time, no more than two quarts in a calendar month, and may not possess more than four quarts total within the state at any given time.2Comptroller of Maryland. Administrative Release No. AB-1 – Alcohol Tax These limits apply to all alcoholic beverages, not just high-proof spirits.
Shipping is not an option. Maryland does not allow any quantity of alcohol to be mailed or shipped directly to a consumer from an out-of-state source.2Comptroller of Maryland. Administrative Release No. AB-1 – Alcohol Tax Ordering 190-proof Everclear online and having it delivered to a Maryland address isn’t permitted. You would have to physically carry the bottle yourself, within the quart limits above.
Neighboring Virginia and Pennsylvania also restrict 190-proof sales, so a short cross-border trip won’t solve it. Delaware and West Virginia have more permissive rules, but the Maryland one-quart-at-a-time limit still governs anything you carry back.
Flying Home With Everclear
Federal aviation rules add another layer if you plan to pick up a bottle on a trip. The FAA classifies alcoholic beverages over 70% ABV, which is 140 proof, as hazardous materials. Under 49 CFR 175.10, passengers may transport alcohol between 24% and 70% ABV in unopened retail packaging, up to 5 liters per person in carry-on or checked bags.3eCFR. 49 CFR 175.10 – Exceptions for Passengers, Crewmembers, and Air Operators Anything above 140 proof is not permitted on the aircraft at all, checked or carry-on.4Federal Aviation Administration. PackSafe – Alcoholic Beverages
That rules out flying with 190-proof Everclear, and it also rules out the 151-proof version at 75.5% ABV. Only the 120-proof bottle at 60% ABV falls within the permitted range for air travel. If you’re driving instead, the FAA rules don’t apply, but Maryland’s personal import limits still do.