An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding Special Food and Beverage Taste-testing Event Licenses
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1637
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: ALFOND, MONAGHAN-DERRIG, BOYLE, SAVIELLO, CHIPMAN, DEVIN, HERBIG, MARKS
Amends: 28-A MRSA §709, 28-A MRSA §1052-B, 28-A MRSA §1052-C

Legislative Document 
No. 1637 
S.P. 628 
In Senate, December 23, 2013 
An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding Special Food and Beverage 
Taste-testing Event Licenses 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 23, 2013.  Referred to the Committee 
on Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by President ALFOND of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative MONAGHAN-DERRIG of Cape Elizabeth and 
Senators: BOYLE of Cumberland, SAVIELLO of Franklin, Representatives: CHIPMAN of 
Portland, DEVIN of Newcastle, HERBIG of Belfast, MARKS of Pittston, McCABE of 
Skowhegan. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  28-A MRSA §709, sub-§2, ¶E, as amended by PL 2011, c. 629, §12, is 
further amended to read: 
E.  Those licensed under sections 1052-B or section 1052-C offering free samples or 
tastings; 
Sec. 2.  28-A MRSA §1052-B, as amended by PL 2013, c. 345, §3 and c. 351, §§1 
and 2 and c. 368, Pt. XXXX, §1 and affected by §13, is repealed. 
Sec. 3.  28-A MRSA §1052-C, as amended by PL 2011, c. 629, §18, is further 
amended to read: 
§1052-C.  Special event license 
1.  Special event license.  Malt liquor and wine wholesalers licensed under section 
1401 and manufacturers licensed under section 1355-A or similarly licensed in another 
state may apply jointly for a special food and beverage industry taste-tasting event license 
to participate in a special food and beverage industry taste-testing event under this 
section.  This license authorizes taste testing of malt liquor, wine, fortified wine and 
spirits at an event designed to promote the food and beverage or hospitality industry 
where more than 50% of the participants in the event represent an industry or business 
that holds a license to manufacture, sell or serve alcoholic beverages. 
2.  Fee.  The license fee for the special food and beverage industry event taste-testing 
license is $20 for each wholesaler or manufacturer. 
3.  Application.  The wholesaler and manufacturer licensees Applicants under 
subsection 1 must apply jointly for a special food and beverage industry taste-testing 
event license by filing a written application with the bureau at least 30 5 days before the 
special food and beverage industry taste-testing event not including Saturdays, Sundays 
or legal holidays. The bureau shall consider additional written applications to participate 
in a special event from additional applicants after an initial application for that special 
event has been submitted to the bureau.  The application must include the following: 
A.  The name and address of each licensee applicant; 
B.  The title and purpose of the event; 
C.  The date, time and duration of the event; 
D.  The location of the event; and 
E.  Approval by the municipal officers or a municipal official designated by the 
municipal officers of the municipality where the proposed special food and beverage 
industry taste-testing event will be located.  Notwithstanding section 653, the 
approval may be granted without public notice. 
4.  Up to 10 licensed events per year; one event per license.  A manufacturer or 
wholesaler may obtain up to 5 10 licenses under this section per calendar year.  Each 
license permits an event lasting up to 3 consecutive days. 
5.  Ruling on application.  Upon receipt of an application under subsection 3, the 
bureau shall immediately approve or deny the application.  The bureau shall advise the 
applicants that the license may be revoked or suspended under chapter 33. 
6.  Conditions.  The following conditions apply to special food and beverage 
industry taste-testing events under this section. 
A.  A sales representative licensed in accordance with section 1502 of a manufacturer 
that has been issued a license under this section may pour or provide a taste-testing 
sample of any product the manufacturer is licensed to manufacture under this Title 
may be poured by an employee of a manufacturer that has been issued a license under 
this section, by an employee of a licensed catering service or of the venue where the 
event is held or by a volunteer who is trained and supervised by the event organizers. 
B.  A manufacturer or certificate of approval holder may pour or provide a taste-
testing sample samples of any malt liquor, wine or fortified wine product the 
manufacturer or certificate of approval holder is licensed to manufacture or distribute 
under this Title. 
C.  A minor is prohibited from attending the event unless accompanied by a parent or 
guardian or the alcohol served at the event is confined to a segregated area where 
minors are prohibited. 
D.  Taste-testing Sampling must be conducted within the hours of retail sale 
established in this Title. 
E.  A person who is visibly intoxicated may not be served. 
F.  The bureau may not impose any conditions on an event licensed under this section 
other than those expressly provided in this subsection. 
7.  Additional provision for nonregistered wine and malt liquor.  A sales 
representative licensed in accordance with section 1502 brewery or winery that is not a 
certificate of approval holder but has obtained a special event license under this section 
may provide and pour at a special event wine or malt liquor that is not registered with the 
bureau but has been registered with the United States Department of the Treasury, 
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau to a caterer licensed to serve alcoholic 
beverages at the food and beverage industry taste-testing event for the purpose of 
promoting that wine or malt liquor for distribution and sale in the State.  Excise taxes and 
premiums under sections 1652 and 1703 on wine or malt liquor provided pursuant to this 
subsection must be paid prior to the event. All containers, including empty containers, of 
wine or malt liquor provided pursuant to this subsection must be removed from the State 
following the event. 
8.  Excise taxes; premiums.  A licensee under this section must pay the appropriate 
excise taxes and premiums under sections 1652 and 1703 before the scheduled date of the 
special food and beverage industry taste-testing event. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the laws governing licensing of special taste-testing events by: 
1. Allowing malt liquor and wine wholesalers and manufacturers similarly licensed in 
another state to qualify for a special event license; 
2. Increasing the number of licenses for licensed events that may be obtained by a 
manufacturer or wholesaler per year from 5 to 10; 
3. Allowing additional persons to pour samples of wine and malt liquor at such 
events; 
4. Allowing a brewery or winery that is not a certificate of approval holder but is 
licensed for a special event to provide malt liquor or wine for the event when that malt 
liquor or wine is not registered with the State but is registered with the Federal 
Government; and 
5. Changing the timing regarding when excise taxes and premiums must be paid.