Recent Liquor Laws

Effective July 1, 2009

Chapter 269 – L.D. 1336

An Act to Promote Economic Development in Commercial and Downtown Areas of the State
This section adds exceptions to the law prohibiting the issuance of a liquor license within 300 feet of a church or a school.

Chapter 193 – L.D. 1075

An Act To Expand the Items That May Be Sold by Malt Liquor and Wine Licensees
This section has been expanded to include the following items: glasses, stemware, china and devises designed to open containers of wine and beer.

Chapter 32 – L.D. 278

An Act To Allow Small Stores To Conduct Wine Taste Testings
For the purposes of this section, "fine wine store" means a store that carries at least 250 different wine labels or carries at least 125 different wine labels, holds a wine license only and meets the compatible merchandise requirement of section 1201, subsections 6 and 7.

Chapter 437 – L.D. 1085

An Act To Require Alcohol Retailers To Post Signs Regarding the Laws Governing Alcohol
Licensees are required to post signs provide by the commissioner which inform customers of the provisions of §2051 ( Prohibited Acts by Minors) and §2081 (Furnishing or Allowing Consumption of Liquor by Certain Persons).

Effective September 17, 2005
Enacts 28-A M.R.S.A. §15

Chapter 377 – L.D. 1641

An Act To Create a Small Brewer Distiller License
This law creates a "small brewer distiller" license and defines the conduct permitted by licensees.

Effective September 17, 2005
Enacts 28-A M.R.S.A. §1355 (8) & (9)

Chapter 319 – L.D. 1289

An Act Allowing Spirits Tasting Events
This law allows a distiller to rent space from a retail licensee to invite retail licensees to taste test spirits (certain rules must be followed).

Effective September 17, 2005
Enacts 28-A M.R.S.A. §1051 (6)

Chapter 292 – L.D. 903

An Act to Strengthen the Penalties for Furnishing Alcohol to or Allowing Consumption by Minors
Under previous law, the mandatory minimum fine for the Class D offense of providing alcohol to minors who are less than 14 years of age is $500.00. The mandatory fine now applies to furnishing alcohol to anyone less than 18 years of age. The mandatory fine is raised to $1,000 for a second offense within six years. A third offense is has a $1500 mandatory minimum fine. Furnishing a place to consume alcohol for minors under 18 years of age yields a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000. A second offense within 6 years is $2,000.

Effective September 17, 2005
Amends 28-A M.R.S.A. §2081 (1) (A) & (B)

Chapter 259 – L.D. 1155

An Act to Prohibit the Sale and Use of Vaporized Alcohol and Alcohol Vaporizing Devices
It is a civil violation to use vaporized alcohol or possess or use or sell an alcohol vaporizing device. There is an exception for medical or scientific research.

Effective September 17, 2005
Enacts 28-A M.R.S.A. §2088

Chapter 139 – L.D. 620

An Act to Clarify the Liquor Enforcement Laws
The Commissioner of Public Safety may contract with a law enforcement agency to allow certain officers to enforce administrative alcohol violations (or only certain administrative alcohol violations).

Effective September 17, 2005
Enacts 28-A M.R.S.A. §82-A

Chapter 38 – L.D. 77

An Act to Require Valid Identification for Purchases of Liquor
Licensees must card everyone who appears to be under 27 years of age.

Effective June 29, 2005
Enacts 28-A M.R.S.A. §706 (2)

Chapter 390 – L.D. 1335

An Act To Create a Small Distillery Off-premises License
This law creates a "small distillery off-premises" license and defines the conduct permitted by licensees.

Effective June 14, 2005
Enacts 28-A M.R.S.A. §2 (29-A)
Enacts 28-A M.R.S.A. §1012 (5)

Chapter 108 – L.D. 290

An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Mobile Service Bars on Maine Golf Courses
This law takes away the January 1, 2006 sunset date for mobile service bars used by golf courses. Absent another change in law, mobile service bars are now permanently allowed under Maine law.

Effective May 13, 2005
Amends 28-A M.R.S.A. §1012(4)
Amends 28-A M.R.S.A. §1075(2)

Chapter 596 - LD 1820

An Act To Allow Small Businesses To Participate in Liquor Sales

Public Law 2005, chapter 596 provides that when considering issuing a license for an agency liquor store, the licensing division of Department of Public Safety shall consider the absence of an existing agency store in a downtown location with under 3,000 square feet of retail space.  This law also provides that the licensing division is not required to consider the availability of parking spaces when issuing a license to a store with under 3,000 feet of retail space in a downtown location.

Effective August 23, 2006
Amends 28-A M.R.S.A. §5

Chapter 113 - LD 620

An Act Relating to Liquor Samples

Public Law 2007, chapter 113 allows a sales representative for a distilled spirits manufacturer to provide spirits samples to retail licensees.

Effective September 20, 2007
Enacts 28-A M.R.S.A. §1504

Chapter 117 - LD 1124

An Act To Create an Ownership Interest in Agency Liquor Store Licenses

Public Law 2007, chapter 117 requires the transfer of an agency liquor store license if the new owner meets the eligibility qualifications that license applicants are required to meet and if the physical premises of the establishment remain unchanged.

Effective September 20, 2007
Repeals/Replaces 28-A M.R.S.A. §2
Repeals/Replaces 28-A M.R.S.A. §49