Press Releases - Department of Liquor Control

Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services’ White Oak Liquor and Wine Store Temporarily Closed After Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 22, 2020

The White Oak Liquor and Wine store operated by Montgomery County’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) has temporarily closed after a store employee tested positive for COVID-19. ABS was made aware of the positive test on Saturday, Dec. 19, and the store did not open for business. The employee’s last day at work at the White Oak store, which is located at 11239 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring, was Thursday, Dec. 17.

A specialized team was brought in to disinfect the store. This deep cleaning involved chemical fogging and manual wiping down of all products and high contact surfaces in the store. Local health officials have determined the need for some staff to quarantine. The store is scheduled to reopen on Dec. 30, pending the availability of adequate staffing.

In addition to deep cleaning, all ABS stores have installed plexiglass at each register to create a barrier between consumers and staff and have erected hand sanitizer stations by the front doors. Staff is frequently disinfecting surfaces and is encouraging social distancing of at least six feet. Signage reminding customers to engage in social distancing and of the County health order requiring residents to wear face masks while shopping, have been posted in each store. The number of people who can shop at one time is limited in each store to ensure social distancing guidelines.

ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine and spirits for Montgomery County. ABS operates 25 beer, wine and spirits stores throughout the County and one spirits-only store in Poolesville. It manages alcohol licensing, enforcement and education for more than 1,000 businesses. Generating more than $35 million in net income annually, ABS profits are used to pay down County debt with a large portion deposited in the County general fund to pay for resident services that would otherwise be funded by County tax dollars.

For information about ABS, including store hours and locations visit the website and follow ABS on Facebook and Twitter.

For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 data dashboard.

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Release ID: 20-806
Media Contact: Melissa Davis 240-660-1224