maryland state licensed beverage assocation

What maryland state licensed beverage assocation does

Maryland State Licensed Beverage Association (MSLBA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1950 and headquartered in Westminster, Maryland. The association represents independent retail alcohol beverage licensees across all 24 Maryland counties and the City of Annapolis, including liquor stores, wine shops, beer and wine retailers, and on-premise establishments with retail alcohol licenses. MSLBA's membership is drawn entirely from SMB retailers operating in Maryland, with annual dues set on a jurisdiction-by-county basis ranging from $324 to $500 per year, plus an optional $100 PAC contribution.

The association's core product offering is membership, which bundles state-level advocacy at the Maryland State House, federal-level representation through its affiliate relationship with American Beverage Licensees (ABL), compliance and regulatory guidance (notably tracking MD ATCC actions on THC products, tobacco modernization, and labor compliance), and member networking through events such as county golf tournaments. MSLBA operates a federated structure with local county affiliates (AACLBA in Anne Arundel, BCLBA in Baltimore County), retains dedicated lobbyist and legal counsel (Schwartz, Metz, Wise & Kauffman, P.A.), and supplements its dues revenue with sponsor tiers (Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze) and a PR Fund contribution program. It has no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capabilities, and no disclosed digital product surface beyond its informational website and Facebook presence.

Revenue is generated primarily through non-deductible annual membership dues, with supplemental income from event sponsors and the PR Fund. The business is member-owned and member-governed, with leadership (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Recording Secretary, Sgt. at Arms, Legislative Chairs) drawn from active member retailers, supported by an Executive Director and a small administrative staff. There is no external parent company, no private equity or venture capital involvement, and no funding rounds. MSLBA operates as a stable, status-quo-oriented advocacy organization with a 75-year operating history.

Name

maryland state licensed beverage assocation

Legal name

Maryland State Licensed Beverage Association

Website

https://www.mslba.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maryland State Licensed Beverage Association is a 501(c)(6) trade association founded in 1950 that represents independent retail alcohol beverage licensees across all 24 Maryland counties, providing legislative advocacy, compliance guidance, and federal representation through its ABL affiliation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Westminster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues collected from licensed retail alcohol beverage establishments. Dues vary by county jurisdiction, ranging from $324 to $500 per year depending on the Maryland county where the business is located.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

MSLBA is a member-driven trade association that provides advocacy, compliance resources, and government affairs representation for Maryland licensed beer, wine, and spirits retailers. Its core offerings include annual membership with jurisdiction-based dues across 24 Maryland counties, lobbying and legislative monitoring at the Maryland State House and U.S. Congress, and guidance on Maryland alcohol beverage laws and compliance requirements. The association also operates a public relations fund for industry advocacy and communication.

Product overview

MSLBA operates as a single unified membership organization rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The association provides a suite of member services centered on advocacy representation, regulatory compliance resources, and government affairs support for Maryland licensed beer, wine, and spirits retailers. Key offerings include membership benefits, government affairs lobbying, compliance and regulatory guidance, and a PR fund contribution program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MSLBA Membership
• Government Affairs
• Compliance & Regulations
• PR Fund Contribution

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Beverage Licensees (ABL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliate relationship. MSLBA membership includes membership in the American Beverage Licensees Association, providing representation at the federal level.
• AlacrityminorOthersMSLBA's new credit card processing partner as referenced in member news updates.
• Schwartz, Metz, Wise & Kauffman, P.A.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides lobbying and legal counsel services to MSLBA and its members through J. Steven Wise, Esq.
• Anne Arundel County Local Beverage Association (AACLBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal affiliate representing Anne Arundel County liquor licensees.
• Baltimore County Local Beverage Association (BCLBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal affiliate representing Baltimore County liquor licensees.
• Maryland Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission (ATCC)coreOthersState regulatory agency overseeing alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis licensing and compliance in Maryland.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• American Beverage Licensees: National trade association for beverage alcohol licensees/retailers. MSLBA is a state-level affiliate and MSLBA membership includes ABL membership, making it the most directly comparable peer in the same product category, customer base, and advocacy mission.

Broad incumbents

• Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America: Larger national trade association for the beverage alcohol industry focused on wholesalers/distributors. Comparable as a tier-3 alcohol trade body operating at the federal/state interface, though it represents the supply side rather than independent retailers.

Others

• Distilled Spirits Council of the United States: National trade association representing distilled spirits producers and suppliers. Operates in the same Maryland/D.C. regulatory and legislative arenas as MSLBA and shares overlapping sponsor and policy networks, though from the producer side rather than the retail side.
• Beer Institute: National trade association for brewers and beer importers. Adjacent peer working the same three-tier system and Maryland/federal alcohol policy environment as MSLBA but on the supplier side of the value chain.
• Wine Institute: Trade association representing California wineries. Comparable in that it engages on alcohol regulatory and legislative issues at the state and federal level and shares the supplier-retailer constituency dynamics MSLBA navigates in Maryland.
• National Association of Convenience Stores: Trade association for the convenience store industry, a large share of whose members hold retail alcohol beverage licenses. Comparable in advocating on alcohol, tobacco, payments, and labor compliance for SMB licensees operating in multiple states.
• Brewers Association: Trade association for craft brewers. Adjacent peer operating in the same Maryland alcohol policy space (three-tier system, labeling, distribution rules) but representing small brewers rather than retailers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MSLBA1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maryland-state-licensed-beverage-association-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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