Alcohol Beverage Sales Surge in Montgomery County, Maryland
Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) retail store sales have seen a significant spike since the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis. Sales in January and February were already up 1.5%. By the end of March, the County-run stores were deemed essential by the Governor and saw a surge in retail sales of 22.7% in March and April, as compared to the same time last year. Sales are now closer to normal levels.
“All of our profits are transferred to the County,” said Robert Dorfman, director of ABS. “Additional sales and profits benefit taxpayers and can help support County initiatives resulting from these difficult times.”
County Council members, who manage the General Fund, and Montgomery County residents who benefit from it, can find consolation in knowing that in a time where every dollar matters, ABS is hard at work to contribute to the County to help with relief efforts.
ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine, and spirits for Montgomery County. It operates 25 beer, wine, and spirits stores and manages alcohol licensing and enforcement. Generating more than $35 million last year, ABS profits are used to pay off County debt and a large portion is deposited in the County General Fund to pay for services that would otherwise be paid for with tax dollars.
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