Retail Tobacco Businesses and Establishment of a Premium Cigar Lounge Alcoholic Beverages License (Maryland Premium Cigar Lounge Act of 2026)

HB 766 creates a new "Premium Cigar Lounge" (Class C-PCL) alcoholic beverages license for tobacco retailers that primarily sell premium cigars and pipe tobacco. It allows these licensed businesses to serve alcohol on-premises under specific conditions: customers must bring their own alcohol, purchase an item from the business, and have staff certified in alcohol awareness. The bill exempts these lounges from Maryland's Clean Indoor Air Act (while requiring air filtration plans and clear smoking signage) and prohibits tobacco licenses adjacent to healthcare or childcare facilities. Businesses must also maintain 70% of daily sales from cigars/accessories and submit annual sales reports to the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission.