ANNAPOLIS Md. The Restaurant Association of Maryland cheered the recent repeal in the state's General Assembly of a law that would have imposed licensing fees for soda fountains on restaurants and retail establishments.
Operators would have been subject to fines of between $25 and $60 per dispenser in each location.
The original law, which was passed in 1916, addressed only those business ventures defined as soda fountain businesses. However, the state comptroller's office revised the law to apply to restaurants, retail stores, theaters, sports complexes, convenience stores and food courts.
Maryland lawmakers repealed the fee last Monday on the last day of their legislative session.
"The repeal of the soda fountain license fee is a great win for restaurants and retailers," said Melvin Thompson, senior vice president of government affairs for the RAM. "Normally, it is a challenge to get a bill passed this late in the legislative session. However, the bill's sponsor, Delegate Nic Kipke ... worked closely with the industry and fellow lawmakers to ensure that House Bill 1573 passed before the legislature adjourned."
RAM maintained that because almost all businesses that have soda fountains must obtain locally issued foodservice facility licenses, the 93-year-old license law is unnecessary, and that operators already pay fees to cover the operation of such equipment.
Contact Paul Frumkin at [email protected].
