(a)      (1)      It is the policy of the State of Maryland that it is necessary to regulate and control the manufacture, sale, distribution, transportation and storage of alcoholic beverages within this State and the transportation and distribution of alcoholic beverages into and out of this State to obtain respect and obedience to law and to foster and promote temperance.

            (2)      It is the legislative intent that that policy will be carried out in the best public interest by empowering the Comptroller of the Treasury, the various local boards of license commissioners and liquor control boards, all enforcement officers and the judges of the various courts of this State with sufficient authority to administer and enforce the provisions of this article.

            (3)      The restrictions, regulations, provisions and penalties contained in this article are for the protection, health, welfare and safety of the people of this State.

            (4)      It also is the policy of the State to tax alcoholic beverages as provided in the Tax - General Article, and to deny to any political subdivision in this State the power or authority, either by public general law or by public local law, to impose any tax on distilled spirits, beer, wine and all other alcoholic beverages on and after July 1, 1955.

      (b)      (1)      It continues to be the policy of this State to authorize the exercise of the powers and authority provided by this article for the purpose of displacing or limiting economic competition by regulating or engaging in the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages or both in order to obtain respect and obedience to law, to foster and promote temperance, to prevent deceptive, destructive, and unethical business practices, and to promote the general welfare of its citizens by controlling the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages.

            (2)      The officials and agencies granted powers and authority by this article to regulate and engage in the alcoholic beverages industry may displace or limit economic competition by regulating and engaging in the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages or both on an exclusive basis as provided in this article and may adopt and enforce regulations authorized by this article notwithstanding any anticompetitive effect.

            (3)      The powers granted to any official or agency pursuant to this subsection may not be construed:

                  (i)      To grant to the official or agency powers in any substantive area not otherwise granted to the official or agency by other public general or public local law;

                  (ii)      To restrict the official or agency from exercising any power granted to the official or agency by other public general or public local law or otherwise;

                  (iii)      To authorize the official or agency or officers of the agency to engage in any activity which is beyond their power under other public general law, public local law, or otherwise; or

                  (iv)      To preempt or supersede the regulatory authority of any State department or agency under any public general law.