Damascus fire department runs dry in serving booze

County says alcohol consumption in dry community violates the law

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

by Susan Singer-Bart

Staff Writer

After more than 20 years of serving alcohol at private events, the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department found out late last year that it was breaking the law.

The news stunned the department, which is the only dry town in Montgomery County. Department leaders thought they had county approval to allow alcohol in its Activities Center on Lewis Drive.

‘‘Before we ever broke ground, we went to the county liquor board and got a letter,” said Leonard King of Deal, Md., who chaired the fire department building committee when the center was built in 1983. ‘‘I remember it real well.”

The department has been unable to locate that letter.

Damascus is a dry town — alcohol is not sold in restaurants or stores and alcoholic consumption is barred outside of private homes. Alcohol cannot be served by a group, unless it is a fraternal or veterans organization, said Dennis Theoharis, executive director with the county Board of License Commissioners. A commission inspector told the fire department last fall it was not allowed to offer alcohol on its premises.

The department based its financial plan for paying for the center and supporting the department on its ability to attract bookings because alcohol could be served on the premises, King said.

When Theoharis got a call more than six months ago from someone inquiring about serving alcohol at the fire department activity building, he sent an inspector out to talk with the department.

‘‘They are prohibited from allowing people from consuming alcohol and they couldn’t allow the public to bring alcohol.”

The fire department has retained a lawyer and is searching its archives for the letter, said Tom Gartner, department president.

Damascus is the last alcohol-free town in the county. But there are several places allowed to serve alcohol at their functions. American Legion Post 171, a veterans organization, is allowed to serve alcohol to members and their guests, said Commander Frank Carpenter.

The Damascus Community Recreation Center can get one-day licenses, so individuals renting the center can serve alcohol to their guests, said director Linda Panagoulis.

The only way the alcohol will flow again at the fire department building is through a resident referendum.