County Alcohol Beverage Services Launches Program Encouraging Responsible Driving Decisions

In light of April being National Alcohol Awareness Month, Montgomery County’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) launched a “Pause Program” in partnership with spirits manufacturer Brown-Forman. The program encourages residents to “pause” and make responsible decisions when buying drinks to-go. 

During the COVID-19 health crisis, the Montgomery County Board of License Commissioners approved a temporary resolution allowing restaurants to sell alcohol to-go. The resolution requires that the alcohol be sold in a sealed container for off-premises consumption. It also requires customers to purchase a meal with the alcoholic beverage.  

As part of the program, ABS will distribute 20,000 branded stickers for lids or sides of to-go drinks. Those stickers say “Pause until you get home — please do not open or consume while driving.” ABS will provide the branded stickers to restaurants that are approved to sell alcohol for off-premises consumption, off-premise licensed businesses and their own county-operated retail stores. The stickers will be given to businesses free of cost.  

“This is a great opportunity to remind the public and community at-large that alcohol to-go must be consumed at home, not while walking around town and never while driving,” said ABS Acting Director Kathie Durbin in a press release. “We want to keep our communities safe while helping businesses thrive in a time of need.”

About Michael Hernández

Michael Hernández is a freelancer reporter for Montgomery Community Media and Hola Montgomery. He was previously an intern at MCM and is also a junior journalism major at the University of Maryland. You can reach him by email at mhernandez@mymcmedia.org.

View all posts by Michael Hernández