There is no single answer to what time they stop selling alcohol in Maryland, because the state leaves closing times to each county and Baltimore City. Most on-premises sales (bars and restaurants) end at 2 a.m., with some counties allowing 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Most off-premises sales (liquor and package stores) end between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., and some types of alcohol can’t be sold until later in the morning. The exact cutoff depends on your county, your license class, the day of the week, and whether you’re buying beer and wine or liquor.
Why Maryland Has No Statewide Closing Time
Maryland’s alcohol laws are unusually decentralized. The state Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission handles statewide enforcement and industry licensing,1State of Maryland. About the ATCC but each of the 23 counties and Baltimore City runs its own liquor board with authority to set permitted sales hours. The Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article of the Maryland Code dedicates an entire division to provisions that apply only to individual jurisdictions, which is why hours in Montgomery County don’t match hours in Worcester County or anywhere else.2Justia. 2025 Maryland Statutes – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis
Hours also change depending on what kind of license the seller holds. A Class A license covers off-premises sales (packaged alcohol you take home). A Class B license covers on-premises sales at restaurants, hotels, and bars. Within those classes, counties often set different hours for beer and wine versus liquor, and different hours for Sunday versus the rest of the week.
Typical Closing Times
While the specifics vary, most Maryland counties follow a recognizable pattern:
- Sales start somewhere between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on weekdays.
- Off-premises beer and wine often becomes available earlier (around 6 a.m.) than off-premises liquor (often 9 a.m.).
- Most on-premises sales end at 2 a.m. the following day.
- Weekend on-premises sales sometimes stretch to 3 a.m., particularly at full-service restaurants and hotels.
- Off-premises sales commonly cut off between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.
Those are starting points, not guarantees. A business operating under a different license class, in a different county, or on a Sunday can be on a completely different clock.
Closing Times in Montgomery County
Montgomery County ties sales hours directly to the license class. A Class B beer, wine, and liquor license for hotels and restaurants allows on-premises sales from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, with extended hours on holidays. A Class B beer-and-wine license allows on-premises sales from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day, and off-premises sales from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day.3Montgomery County Government. Alcohol License Classes and Types Montgomery County also runs a government alcohol retail system through its Alcohol Beverage Services division, which controls wholesale distribution and operates county liquor stores on those same hours.
Closing Times in Worcester County
Worcester County structures its hours by license class and beverage type. A Class A beer, wine, and liquor license holder can sell from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. the following day, Monday through Sunday. A 7-day Class B license holder can sell beer and wine for off-premises consumption from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., liquor for off-premises consumption from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., and all three for on-premises consumption from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.4New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 33-2005 – Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses Holders of 6-day licenses follow the same hour structure but cannot sell on Sundays at all.
Sunday Hours Are Often Different
Sunday is where Maryland’s county variation gets sharpest. Some counties treat Sunday the same as any other day. Others restrict hours, limit the counties or election districts where Sunday sales are allowed, or require voters to approve Sunday sales through local referendums.
Washington County is a clear example. Class A and Class B beer-and-wine license holders there can sell Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., but Sunday sales run only from 6 a.m. to midnight, and only in election districts where voters have approved them by referendum.5Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Code 21-2003 In Worcester County, as noted above, Sunday sales depend entirely on whether the license is a 7-day or 6-day license.4New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 33-2005 – Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses
If you’re trying to buy on a Sunday, don’t assume the same cutoff applies as Saturday night. Call ahead or check with the local liquor board.
Holiday Hours
Several counties extend sales hours on holidays, especially around New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Montgomery County’s Class B hotel and restaurant licenses explicitly include holiday extended hours.3Montgomery County Government. Alcohol License Classes and Types Which holidays qualify and how many extra hours are granted depend on the county.
Delivery Cutoff Times
If you’re ordering alcohol for delivery, the cutoff is tied to the retail store’s own hours. Alcohol delivery in Maryland can only happen during the hours the retail store is open for in-store purchases. The alcohol has to be in the manufacturer’s sealed container, drivers must be at least 21 and have completed an approved alcohol awareness program, and the recipient has to show valid ID proving they are 21 or older when the delivery arrives.6Maryland General Assembly. 2024 Laws of Maryland – Chapter 775 (Senate Bill 456)
In practical terms, if your local liquor store stops selling at 10 p.m., delivery from that store also stops at 10 p.m. Deliveries also can’t cross out of the jurisdiction where the retailer is licensed, so a store in one county can’t deliver to an address in another.
Direct Wine Shipments
Out-of-state wineries holding a Maryland direct wine shipper’s permit can ship wine to Maryland consumers, but not on Sundays. Shipments are capped at 18 nine-liter cases per shipper per year to any single delivery address, and only wine and pomace brandy qualify. Spirits and beer cannot be shipped directly to consumers.
How to Confirm Your County’s Exact Cutoff
Because there’s no statewide answer, the only reliable way to know when sales stop at a specific store, bar, or restaurant is to:
- Ask the business directly. Licensees know their own permitted hours and are responsible for sticking to them.
- Contact your county’s liquor board or board of license commissioners. They set the rules and publish them locally.
- Check the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article of the Maryland Code for the subtitle covering your specific county, which lays out the hour framework the local board works within.2Justia. 2025 Maryland Statutes – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis
Treating a neighboring county’s hours as a guide will get you to a locked door more often than not. A bar in Baltimore City, a package store in Worcester County, and a hotel restaurant in Montgomery County can all stop pouring at different times on the same Saturday night, and each one is operating under rules written for its own jurisdiction.