Prince George’s County Council using study to determine health impacts amount of liquor, tobacco stores

The Council said there is a saturation of what they say are too many tobacco and liquor stores in the county.

Council Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha said the council is doing a study to get data on the health impact of those businesses.

“We understand people drink and people smoke, and we might need one or two liquor stores, but we don’t need five. And people might want to buy tobacco products, but do we need four next to each other in the same shopping center?” Oriadha said.

Many in the Prince George’s County community, like Jamell Cottrell, agree with the study being done to cut back on so many liquor and tobacco stores.

“I do think that seeing less liquor stores and I don’t smoke or drink, so and me personally, if I see less of these stores, I would not mind that at all,” Cottrel said.

Charles Robinson from Bowie also agrees with the Council’s mission.

“I believe there are way too many alcohol stores and tobacco stores and I think we would be better served if we had more outreach centers to help our youth in a positive environment,” Robinson said.

Councilwoman Oriadha said the goal of the project is to take the study and use it as a way to build future legislation to help improve zoning.