An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding the Sale of Liquor
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0523
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: GRATWICK, GOODE, CUSHING, DILL, CAMPBELL, FREY, KORNFIELD, LOCKMAN, TIPPING-SPITZ
Amends: 28-A MRSA §83-C, 28-A MRSA §709, 28-A MRSA §1070

Legislative Document 
No. 523 
S.P. 192 
In Senate, February 26, 2015 
An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding the Sale of Liquor 
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator GRATWICK of Penobscot. 
Cosponsored by Representative GOODE of Bangor and 
Senators: CUSHING of Penobscot, DILL of Penobscot, Representatives: CAMPBELL of 
Orrington, FREY of Bangor, KORNFIELD of Bangor, LOCKMAN of Amherst, TIPPING-
SPITZ of Orono. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  28-A MRSA §83-C, sub-§§8 and 9, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 476, Pt. 
A, §9, are amended to read: 
8.  Establish performance standards for contracts.  Establish performance 
standards for any contract awarded under this Title, subject to applicable laws relating to 
public contracts; and 
9.  Report on expenditures.  Report annually on expenditures and investments made 
by the bureau, including, but not limited to, reductions in the list price at which spirits are 
sold and incentives offered to agency liquor stores, to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over alcoholic beverage 
matters. The report must include the impact of those spending initiatives on the number 
of cases of spirits sold in the State and on sales of spirits generally.; and 
Sec. 2.  28-A MRSA §83-C, sub-§10 is enacted to read: 
10.  Alcohol server and seller training program.  Establish a required training 
program for persons who serve or sell alcoholic beverages. 
Sec. 3.  28-A MRSA §709, sub-§1, ¶C is enacted to read: 
C.  A person under 18 years of age may not entertain, with or without compensation, 
at a licensed premises while liquor is being sold or consumed, unless the person is a 
member of an entertainment performance group entertaining in a civic auditorium, 
Class A restaurant, club or hotel dining room. 
Sec. 4.  28-A MRSA §1070, as amended by PL 1997, c. 373, §§94 and 95, is 
further amended to read: 
§1070.  Civic auditoriums 
1.  Issuance of licenses.  The bureau may issue licenses under this section for the sale 
of spirits, wine and malt liquor to civic auditoriums as defined in section 2, subsection 15, 
paragraph C.  The license may be issued to the owner of the civic auditorium, the 
operator of the civic auditorium or the entity providing alcoholic beverages to the public 
in the civic auditorium. 
2.  Events on licensed premises only.  Licenses issued to civic auditoriums may be 
used only in conjunction with a function or event held on the licensed premises. 
3.  No sales during events for minors.  Licensees may not sell spirits, wine or malt 
liquor during any school activities or events primarily attended by minors in the rooms 
where these activities are taking place.  Licensees may sell spirits, wine or malt liquor in 
areas of the civic auditorium where these activities are not taking place, including club 
seats, suites and meeting spaces. 
4.  Licensee must notify bureau.  The civic auditorium licensee shall give written 
notice to the bureau at least 24 hours before a function or event. 
5.  Sale of spirits, wine and malt liquor in original containers.  Licensees may sell 
or resell spirits, wine and malt liquor in original containers within club seats, suites or 
meeting spaces in civic auditoriums. 
SUMMARY 
This bill allows a license for the sale of alcoholic beverages at a civic auditorium to 
be issued to the civic auditorium owner or operator or to the entity providing the 
alcoholic beverages.  The bill provides that, in specific areas of the civic auditorium, such 
as club seats, suites or meeting spaces, alcoholic beverages may be sold in their original 
containers.  The bill provides that alcoholic beverages may be sold during an event at a 
civic auditorium primarily attended by minors as long as they are sold in areas where the 
event is not taking place. The bill repeals the requirement that a licensee give written 
notice to the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic 
Beverages and Lottery Operations at least 24 hours before a function or event at a civic 
auditorium.   
The bill also requires the bureau to establish a required training program for persons 
who serve or sell alcoholic beverages. 
The bill permits a person under 18 years of age to entertain at a licensed premises 
while liquor is being sold or consumed if the performance takes place in a civic 
auditorium, Class A restaurant, club or hotel dining room and the person is a member of 
an entertainment performance group.