An Act To Update the Laws Relating to Liquor Licensing and Enforcement
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1533
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: LUCHINI, DILLINGHAM
Amends: 28-A MRSA §2, 28-A MRSA §10, 28-A MRSA §453, 28-A MRSA §453-A, 28-A MRSA §453-D, 28-A MRSA §601, 28-A MRSA §652, 28-A MRSA §706, 28-A MRSA §712, 28-A MRSA §714, 28-A MRSA §1001, 28-A MRSA §1003, 28-A MRSA §1004, 28-A MRSA §1005, 28-A MRSA §1012, 28-A MRSA §1073, 28-A MRSA §1075-A, 28-A MRSA §2519

Legislative Document
No. 1533
H.P. 1053
House of Representatives, April 25, 2017
An Act To Update the Laws Relating to Liquor Licensing and 
Enforcement
Submitted by the Department of Administrative and Financial Services pursuant to Joint 
Rule 204.
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative LUCHINI of Ellsworth.
Cosponsored by Representative: DILLINGHAM of Oxford.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  28-A MRSA §2, sub-§15, ¶G, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, §4, is 
amended to read: 
G.  "Golf club course" means any a commercially operated facility, whether publicly 
or privately owned, offering golfing facilities to the general public for a fee, which 
includes including a regulation size golf course of not less than 9 holes and an 
average total of not less than 1,200 yards per 9 holes, which that has a value of not 
less than $100,000, which that offers food for sale to the public and which that has 
adequate facilities for the sale and consumption of liquor. 
Sec. 2.  28-A MRSA §2, sub-§26, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, §4, is 
amended to read: 
26.  Retail sale.  "Retail sale" means any single sale of liquor of less than 20 gallons, 
or its metric equivalent, for consumption on or off the premises where sold and whether 
in the original package or as a mixed drink for immediate consumption. 
Sec. 3.  28-A MRSA §10, sub-§2-B, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 494, Pt. D, 
§9, is amended to read: 
B.  When access between the 2 licensed areas exists for patrons of either 
establishment, all malt liquor and wine sold for on-premises consumption must be 
served by an employee of the licensed establishment and may be served only when 
accompanying food or a full course meal prepared in a separate and complete kitchen 
on the premises.  A restaurant under this paragraph must serve food.  For the 
purposes of this paragraph, "full meal" means a diversified selection of food that 
cannot ordinarily be consumed without the use of tableware and cannot be 
conveniently consumed while standing or walking "food" includes cold or hot meals, 
including sandwiches and salads, but is not limited to hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot 
dogs, pizzas and other food items that customarily appear on a restaurant menu.  
"Food" does not include prepackaged snack foods such as popcorn, chips or pretzels.  
A Class A restaurant under this paragraph must serve a full course meal. 
Sec. 4.  28-A MRSA §453, sub-§2-C, ¶A, as amended by PL 2013, c. 269, Pt. A, 
§5, is repealed. 
Sec. 5.  28-A MRSA §453, sub-§2-C, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. 
JJJJ, §2, is repealed. 
Sec. 6.  28-A MRSA §453, sub-§2-C, ¶B-1 is enacted to read: 
B-1.  The applicant will be able to stock the following inventory purchased from the 
bureau: 
(1)  In a municipality with a population of 1,000 or more, at least $10,000 worth 
of spirits; and 
(2)  In a municipality with a population of 999 or less, at least $5,000 worth of 
spirits; and 
Sec. 7.  28-A MRSA §453, sub-§2-D, as amended by PL 2015, c. 221, §2, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 8.  28-A MRSA §453-A, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 460, §1, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 9.  28-A MRSA §453-D, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 135, §1, is 
amended to read: 
1.  Relocation application requirements.  The bureau shall permit a change of 
location of an agency liquor store licensee if: 
A.  The licensee submits a $2,000 relocation fee and an application in a form 
prescribed by the bureau; 
B.  The application includes proof of receipt of municipal approval of the relocation; 
C.  The licensee has held the license and operated as an agency liquor store for no 
less than one year at the currently licensed location, unless the relocation is directly 
related to retroactive zoning or unintentional destruction of the property that prevents 
rebuilding at the current location; and 
D.  The proposed location of the agency liquor store meets all applicable criteria for 
licensure for an agency liquor store.; and 
E.  The application includes proof of notification, in the form of a certified mail 
receipt, that all agency liquor stores in the same municipality as the licensee's 
proposed relocation site were notified of the proposed relocation before receiving 
approval under paragraph B. 
Sec. 10.  28-A MRSA §453-D, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 135, §1, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 11.  28-A MRSA §601, sub-§2, ¶J, as amended by PL 1997, c. 373, §51, is 
further amended to read: 
J.  The applicant is a golf club course or a restaurant located on the property of a golf 
club course and the Maine Human Rights Commission has found reasonable grounds 
to believe that the golf club course has denied membership to a person in violation of 
Title 5, chapter 337, subchapter V 5, and has determined that conciliation efforts 
under Title 5, chapter 337, section 4612, subsection 3 have not succeeded.  The 
Maine Human Rights Commission shall notify the bureau when the golf club course 
has corrected its discriminatory membership practices, after which the applicant 
ceases to be disqualified under this paragraph. 
Sec. 12.  28-A MRSA §652, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, §4, is 
amended to read: 
6.  Public service license.  One public service license is sufficient to cover all 
steamboats, cars, railroads and aircraft operated by any one public service corporation. 
Sec. 13.  28-A MRSA §706, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 437, §3, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Acceptable identification.  A licensee may refuse to serve liquor to any person 
who fails to display upon request an identification card issued under Title 29-A, section 
1410, including an official identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian 
tribe in the State as described in Title 29-A, section 1410, subsection 7, or a motor 
vehicle operator's license bearing the photograph of the operator and issued under Title 
29-A, chapter 11. 
Sec. 14.  28-A MRSA §712, sub-§2, as repealed and replaced by PL 2013, c. 165, 
§1, is amended to read: 
2.  Serve from faucet, spigot, dispensing apparatus by trade name.  A licensee 
may not furnish or serve any malt liquor from any faucet, spigot or other dispensing 
apparatus, unless: 
A.  The trade name or brand of the malt liquor served appears in full sight of the 
customer in legible lettering upon the faucet, spigot or dispensing apparatus; or 
B.  The licensee displays a list of all malt liquors liquor currently available on tap that 
is clearly visible to patrons of the establishment in a manner that allows a patron to 
identify the trade name or brand of the malt liquor that is being dispensed from each 
faucet, spigot or dispensing apparatus. 
Sec. 15.  28-A MRSA §714, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 543, is 
amended to read: 
A.  "Keg" means a container capable of holding at least 7.75 5 gallons of liquid. 
Sec. 16.  28-A MRSA §1001, sub-§3, ¶G, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, 
§4, is amended to read: 
G.  Golf clubs courses; 
Sec. 17.  28-A MRSA §1003, sub-§3, ¶G, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, 
§4, is amended to read: 
G.  Golf clubs courses; 
Sec. 18.  28-A MRSA §1004, sub-§3, ¶G, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, 
§4, is amended to read: 
G.  Golf clubs courses; 
Sec. 19.  28-A MRSA §1005, sub-§3, ¶G, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, 
§4, is amended to read: 
G.  Golf clubs courses; 
Sec. 20.  28-A MRSA §1012, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2005, c. 108, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
4.  Golf course mobile service bar.  A licensee who is the owner of a golf course 
may apply for a license to sell malt liquor from a mobile service bar as provided in 
section 1075-A.  The license fee per calendar year is $100. 
Sec. 21.  28-A MRSA §1073, as amended by PL 1997, c. 373, §100, is further 
amended to read: 
§1073.  Indoor racquet clubs; ice skating clubs; golf courses; curling clubs; and 
bowling centers 
1.  Issuance of licenses.  The bureau may issue licenses under this section for the sale 
of spirits, wine and malt liquor to be consumed on the premises to bowling centers, 
curling clubs, golf clubs courses, indoor ice skating clubs and indoor racquet clubs as 
defined in section 2, subsection 15, paragraphs B-1, D-1, G, J and K respectively. 
2.  Food availability.  The licensee shall offer food for sale to the public at all times 
that liquor is for sale.  For bowling centers, at least 10% of the gross annual income, not 
including income from the bowling business, must be from the sale of food. 
3.  Separate area for sale of food and liquor.  The licensee shall set aside a separate 
area for the sale and consumption of food and liquor in accordance with the rules of the 
bureau.  For bowling centers, that separate area may not include the area in which the 
game of bowling is conducted. 
Sec. 22.  28-A MRSA §1075-A, sub-§1, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 579, §4, 
is amended to read: 
A.  "Mobile service bar" means a golf cart or other similar vehicle staffed by an 
employee of the golf course and outfitted for storage, cooling or refrigeration and sale 
and service of malt liquor in cans or bottles. 
Sec. 23.  28-A MRSA §1075-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2009, c. 472, §§1 and 
2, is further amended to read: 
2.  License.  The bureau may issue a license for a mobile service bar to a licensee 
who owns a golf course or may issue a license for a mobile service bar to a Class A 
restaurant, Class A restaurant/lounge or Class I hotel located at a golf course and to a golf 
course owner.  The licensee shall ensure that: 
A.  All individuals selling, serving or dispensing malt liquor from a mobile service 
bar are employees of the golf course, except as provided in subsection 2-A; 
B.  The licensee does not possess or permit possession, sale or consumption of any 
malt liquor on the golf course other than that which is permitted and purchased by the 
licensee in accordance with the license or licenses granted; 
C.  A sufficient number of employees are deployed to adequately control and ensure 
adherence to laws applying to the serving, sale and consumption of malt liquor on the 
golf course; 
D.  Service or consumption of any liquor is not allowed in parking lots except as 
otherwise provided in this chapter; 
E.  A licensee or licensee's employees do not allow patrons to leave the golf course 
with any liquor; 
F.  Only one standard serving of malt liquor is served to an individual at a time; 
G.  Signs are posted that state that a patron may not bring alcoholic beverages liquor 
onto the premises of the golf course; 
H.  Signs are placed on the mobile service bar that state that service or consumption 
of any liquor by a person under 21 years of age is prohibited; 
I.  Malt liquor Liquor from a mobile service bar is purchased and consumed only by 
those patrons engaged in a round of golf; 
J.  The operator of a mobile service bar is at least 21 years of age and has successfully 
completed an alcohol server education course; and 
K.  The operator of a mobile service bar has the ability and necessary tools to 
immediately contact a golf course employee working at the part of the golf course 
licensed as an on-premises establishment or an employee of a Class A restaurant or 
Class A restaurant/lounge operating under a contract with a municipal golf course for 
assistance in enforcing the provisions of this section. 
Sec. 24.  28-A MRSA §1075-A, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 472, §3, is 
amended to read: 
2-A.  Municipal golf course.  Notwithstanding subsection 2, paragraph A, 
employees of a Class A restaurant or Class A restaurant/lounge operating under a contract 
with a municipal golf course that does not have a license to serve alcoholic beverages 
liquor may sell, serve or dispense malt liquor from a mobile service bar under the same 
conditions prescribed by subsection 2. 
Sec. 25.  28-A MRSA §2519, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2001, c. 502, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Approval of alcohol server education courses.  The commissioner or the 
commissioner's director of the bureau or director's designee shall approve alcohol server 
education courses for a period of 2 years that meet the criteria developed under this 
section.  The commissioner director may renew approval provided the course meets the 
criteria applicable at the time of renewal. 
Course providers may request renewal by submitting current course material at least 60 
days prior to the date of expiration. 
Sec. 26.  28-A MRSA §2519, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. AA, 
§76 and PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. V, §61, is further amended to read: 
2.  Advisory committee; appointment.  The commissioner director of the bureau 
shall appoint the Server Education Advisory Committee consisting of 8 members, to 
include:  
A.  A representative of the faculty at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy; 
B.  A liquor enforcement officer; 
C.  A representative of the Department of the Attorney General; 
D.  A representative of the Department of Health and Human Services; 
E.  A representative of the education community; 
F.  A representative of a statewide liquor licensee organization; 
G.  A representative of a statewide trial lawyers organization; and 
H.  A representative of the bureau. 
Sec. 27.  28-A MRSA §2519, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, §4, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 28.  28-A MRSA §2519, sub-§6-B, as amended by PL 2001, c. 502, §4, is 
further amended to read: 
6-B.  Suspension of certificate.  The commissioner or the commissioner's director of 
the bureau or director's designee may suspend or revoke an alcohol server instructor's or 
advisor's certificate upon the recommendation of the advisory committee.  The following 
are grounds for an action to suspend or revoke a certificate: 
A.  Repeated instances of failure to provide timely, accurate or legible information 
required by subsection 7; 
B.  Repeated instances of failure to follow the course outline or cover the course 
criteria that were used to gain approval; or 
C.  Receipt of a request to suspend or revoke a certificate from the administrator of 
the course approved by the advisory committee to train instructors. 
Sec. 29.  28-A MRSA §2519, sub-§7, as amended by PL 1999, c. 519, §8, is 
further amended to read: 
7.  Course accountability.  The chief director of the bureau or director's designee 
may appoint an officer employee of the bureau to monitor each alcohol server education 
course to ensure that the course presents proper training and meets the approved criteria.  
The bureau shall maintain a record of the participants who have completed an alcohol 
server training course.  Each instructor of an approved course shall provide the chief 
bureau with the names, addresses, dates of birth and the driver's license numbers, state 
identification card numbers or social security numbers of students who complete the 
course and the date of completion.  The instructors shall forward $3 to the bureau for 
every name submitted.  The amounts collected must be retained by the bureau to cover 
costs related to alcohol server education training. 
Sec. 30.  28-A MRSA §2519, sub-§8, as amended by PL 2001, c. 502, §6, is 
further amended to read: 
8.  Alcohol server education courses; approval; suspension; revocation.  The 
commissioner or the commissioner's director of the bureau or director's designee may 
refuse to issue or renew approval for an alcohol server education course.  The 
commissioner or the commissioner's director of the bureau or director's designee may 
suspend or revoke approval for an alcohol server education course upon the 
recommendation of the advisory committee after reviewing the report of the monitor.  
The following are grounds for an action to refuse to issue or renew approval or to suspend 
or revoke approval. 
A.  The advisory committee finds that an alcohol server education course does not 
meet the criteria listed in subsection 3 or specific criteria determined by the 
committee. 
B.  The course, when presented, does not follow specific criteria determined by the 
advisory committee before issuance of approval. 
C.  The instructor of the course does not provide information or access to the monitor 
as required by subsection 7. 
D.  Fraud or deceit is used to obtain course approval or in providing the course or 
issuing certificates. 
A person aggrieved by a decision of the commissioner or the commissioner's director of 
the bureau or director's designee to refuse to issue or renew approval or to suspend or 
revoke approval for an alcohol server education course may, within 30 days of receipt of 
that decision, appeal the decision to the District Court. 
Sec. 31.  28-A MRSA §2519, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 502, §7, is 
amended to read: 
9.  Approval of Internet-based alcohol server education courses.  The 
commissioner or the commissioner's director of the bureau or director's designee may 
approve an Internet-based alcohol server education course if the course meets the criteria 
developed under this section.  An approved Internet-based alcohol server education 
course must have an advisor, certified under subsection 6-D, available to answer 
questions for persons using the Internet-based alcohol server education course. 
SUMMARY 
This bill: 
1.  Replaces the term "golf club" with "golf course" to eliminate the confusion in 
Title 28-A between golf clubs and other types of clubs; 
2.  Eliminates a threshold amount for a single retail purchase of liquor; 
3.  Clarifies which type of establishments on the same premises as an off-premises 
retailer must serve full course meals or food; 
4.  Removes the requirement that a business prior to being considered for an agency 
liquor store license must have sold malt liquor and wine for one year and have been 
violation free for that same period; 
5.  Amends language that establishes a minimum inventory value of spirits based on 
the population threshold established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 28-A, section 
461; 
6.  Removes language providing an exception for businesses with more than 5 
locations in the State that are sold to a company that has sold malt liquor or wine in 
another state; 
7.  Eliminates the fee for an application for a relocation of an agency liquor store 
within the same municipality and adds a requirement that the application for relocation 
include proof that all existing agency liquor stores in the same municipality were notified 
of the relocation prior to approval by that municipality; 
8.  Repeals the requirement that the Department of Administrative and Financial 
Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations hold a public hearing on 
the relocation application.  The only approval needed is from the municipality on the 
relocation request by the agency liquor store; 
9.  Adds railroads to the list of public service corporation licensees in order to align 
with the definition of "public service corporation"; 
10.  Clarifies that identification issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in the 
State is an acceptable form of identification for the purposes for purchasing liquor; 
11.  Amends the provision of law requiring that any malt liquor served from a faucet, 
spigot or dispensing apparatus must be identified by trade name to include all types of 
liquor; 
12.  Reduces the number of gallons that constitute a keg; 
13.  Establishes that mobile service bars used on golf courses may serve all types of 
liquor; and 
14.  Corrects provisions of law to refer to the director of the bureau instead of the 
Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services. These changes were 
inadvertently left out of Public Law 2013, chapter 368, Part V and Public Law 2013, 
chapter 476, Part A.  The bill also provides that the director or the director's designee may 
approve an alcohol server education course that meets specific criteria.