Our Story

In 1961, representatives from 25 Maryland jurisdictions officially formed the Maryland State Association of Alcoholic Beverages License Administrators (MSAABLA). Original members included Maryland commissioners, inspectors, and attorneys. The organization’s goals were to: 

• Promote and improve Maryland’s Alcoholic Beverage License Administrators. 
• Foster communication and relationships among its members.
• Suggest legislation which affected administrators.

We are now the Maryland Alcohol Licensing Association (MALA), reflecting a more inclusive membership. The landscape is changing with the presence of micro-breweries and new wineries and distilleries across the state. We have producers who are distributors and retailers. As such, in addition to our traditional members, our associate members now include alcohol industry professionals. This move reinforces the importance of fostering cooperation and communication between the alcohol industry and the enforcement community. We look forward to serving communities across the state, well into the future. 

The Maryland Alcohol Licensing Association (MALA) trains and educates its members, the alcohol industry, commercial and/or government officials, and the general public on statewide and county laws related to the production, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages. 

We recognize:

• The evolution of alcohol in the United States and Maryland and that there are entities and issues which exist today, not previously considered.
• That we have a wide range of manufacturers and retailers in Maryland and want to see them grow in a controlled fashion while also protecting the public interest.