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Wine law brings ‘Maryland into the 21st century’

By WTOP Staff

A battle between wine lovers and Maryland legislators was finally settled in the most recent session of the General Assembly.

After nearly unanimous Senate and House votes, restaurants that have liquor licenses will soon be able to get an additional permit from their local liquor board allowing customers to bring their own wine to drink during a meal, a practice called “corkage.”

Sen. Ronald Young voted for the bill, as well as all of Frederick County’s representatives in the House of Delegates. Sen. David Brinkley was absent for the vote.

The law goes into effect July 1, but it does not affect restaurants without liquor licenses. Those establishments can already allow customers to bring their own alcohol if they so choose. The law also has a few stipulations. For instance, the customer’s wine cannot also be for sale on the restaurant’s wine list. Each participating establishment can also set some of its own policies regarding corkage, such as what fee to charge customers who take advantage of the privilege.

Adam Borden, president of Marylanders for Better Beer & Wine Laws, said corkage fees at fine dining restaurants are usually between $20 and $25 while more casual establishments typically charge between $5 and $15.

Borden also said this change and other recent ones have “brought Maryland into the 21st century” regarding its regulations on alcohol.

Another step in the right direction came last year, when a law was passed allowing wineries to ship directly to in-state customers, he said.

“The next issue on the horizon would seem to be whether Maryland consumers can or should be able to buy spirits in grocery and chain stores.”

Wine enthusiasts and restaurant owners are happy with the changes that have made it through so far.

Hilda Staples, co-owner of Volt restaurant in Frederick, said the restaurant looks forward to offering corkage as soon as it becomes legal.

“We have so many celebrations (at Volt),” she said. “Graduations, anniversaries. People save up that really special bottle of wine for years to enjoy with their friends or family. … Now they can also bring their bottle to Maryland and have the same privilege they had in our neighboring borders.”

Corkage is already legal in the District of Columbia and Virginia.

For wine drinkers, “it’s such a great thing to go out to a restaurant and bring a special bottle,” said Ed Boyce, owner of Black Ankle Vineyard in Mount Airy. “As a business owner, it’s not like we’re going to sell a lot more wine because of this.”

However, the evolving laws in Maryland are “good for the industry,” he said.

Borden agreed. Those who pushed for the legislation had a desire to keep Maryland on par with surrounding areas.

“I think that anything that helps us build more of a wine culture in Maryland … the more we can build on that, the better it is for us,” Boyce said.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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