An Act to Support Maine Eating and Drinking Establishments by
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1551
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: TIMBERLAKE, LYMAN
Amends: 28-A MRSA §1051

Legislative Document
No. 1551
S.P. 635
In Senate, April 10, 2025
An Act to Support Maine Eating and Drinking Establishments by 
Allowing Vendors to Operate on the Premises of an Establishment 
with a Liquor License
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin.
Cosponsored by Representative LYMAN of Livermore Falls and
Senators: BICKFORD of Androscoggin, CYRWAY of Kennebec, FARRIN of Somerset, 
Representatives: CRAY of Palmyra, MASON of Lisbon, SUPICA of Bangor.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  28-A MRSA §1051, sub-§11 is enacted to read:
11.  Eating establishments.  A licensed eating establishment, as defined in Title 22, 
section 2491, subsection 7 and referred to in this subsection as "the vendor," may operate 
on the premises of an establishment licensed with the bureau, referred to in this subsection 
as "the host establishment," under the following conditions.
A. The vendor must hold a valid license, including, but not limited to, a temporary 
license, issued by a health inspection program in the Department of Health and Human 
Services or the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. The vendor may 
prepare and sell food to the public on the premises of the host establishment.
B. The vendor may sell alcoholic beverages on the premises of the host establishment 
only if those beverages are supplied exclusively by the host establishment, which must 
hold a valid liquor license issued by the bureau. All persons involved in the service of 
alcoholic beverages must meet state requirements for responsible beverage service 
training. 
C. The vendor must comply with state laws governing food and all applicable health 
and safety rules enforced by the relevant licensing agencies.
D. The host establishment must maintain a written schedule of all operations involving 
vendors, including the name and contact information of the vendor and the dates and 
times of operation.
E. The vendor is responsible for collecting and remitting all applicable state and federal 
sales taxes on food and beverage sales conducted during its operations.
SUMMARY
Under current law, an establishment licensed with the Department of Administrative 
and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations is 
prohibited from allowing outside licensed eating establishments to prepare or sell food or 
alcohol on its premises.
This bill establishes conditions under which a licensed eating establishment vendor 
may operate within a host establishment licensed with the bureau. It permits the vendor to 
sell food and alcoholic beverages, as long as the alcohol is supplied exclusively by the host 
establishment and served in compliance with state training requirements.
The bill also requires the vendor to adhere to all relevant health and safety rules and 
tax reporting obligations and requires the host establishment to maintain an operational 
schedule.