SafeRoadsMD held a demonstration Thursday morning outside the grand opening of Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services’ (ABS) newest Liquor & Wine store in Gaithersburg, calling on County leaders to increase efforts to recruit and retain police officers.
The roadway-safety advocacy group gathered outside the new Flower Hill store at 18251 Flower Hill Way ahead of its 9:45am ribbon-cutting ceremony. The demonstration was not in opposition to the store opening or alcohol sales. Instead, SafeRoadsMD said it wanted to draw attention to what it views as a contrast between revenue generated through the County’s alcohol operations and ongoing police staffing challenges.
SafeRoadsMD argues that the police staffing shortage has affected the County’s ability to provide sustained traffic enforcement aimed at impaired driving, speeding and reckless driving. The group is calling on County leaders to dedicate additional resources toward recruiting and retaining officers.
“Montgomery County reports tens of millions of dollars from liquor sales,” the organization stated ahead of the demonstration. SafeRoadsMD said it wants the County to use more resources to restore police staffing levels and increase roadway enforcement.
The demonstration coincided with the opening of the new ABS Flower Hill store, which welcomed customers for the first time at 10am Thursday. The boutique-style location offers spirits and local products, with its beer and wine selection limited to products made in Maryland.
The grand opening celebration continues through Saturday, September 12, with tastings featuring spirits and local producers. Two allocated products, Michter’s US1 Barrel Strength Sour Mash Whiskey and Weller Special Reserve Wheated Bourbon, were made available exclusively at the Flower Hill location for the opening on a first-come, first-served basis.
ABS serves as Montgomery County’s alcohol wholesaler for beer, wine and spirits and operates retail stores throughout the County. The department also oversees alcohol licensing, enforcement and education for more than 1,000 businesses. According to the County, ABS generates tens of millions of dollars in net income annually, which is used to help pay down County debt and support services through the general fund.
