An Act to Regulate
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1033
Committee Amendment CA_A_H276 (House)
Amends: 28-A MRSA §1057, 28-A MRSA §1358

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " (A:• to H.P. 662, L.D. 1033, "An Act to Regulate 
Alcoholic Beverage Competitions" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 28-A MRSA §1057 is enacted to read: 
§1057. Liquor judging competition event permit 
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context othe1wise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A. "Homemade liquor" means malt liquor, wine or hard cider made by a person's own 
efforts in the person's home for personal use that is not offered for sale and that does 
not contain added spirits. 
B. "Liquor judging competition event" means an event where judges evaluate entries 
of malt liquor, wine, hard cider or spirits, except for homemade spirits, based on a set 
of criteria to determine a winner of the competition. 
2. Liquor judging competition event permit; eligibility. One or more certificate of 
approval holders that are manufacturers may apply for a permit to host a liquor judging 
competition event subject to the conditions prescribed by this section. 
3. Liquor judging competition event participants. A certificate of approval holder 
or a person who produces homemade liquor that does not contain spirits may participate in 
the liquor judging competition event in the same manner and subject to the same conditions 
as a person permitted under this section. 
4. Application. An applicant for a liquor judging competition event permit described 
in subsection 2 shall submit a written application to the bureau no later than 15 calendar 
days prior to the date of the liquor judging competition event. The application must include 
the following: 
A. The name and address of each liquor judging competition event participant; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "k: to H.P. 662, L.D. 1033 
B. The title and purpose of the liquor judging competition event; 
C. The date. time and duration of the liquor judging competition event; 
D. The address and location of the liquor judging competition event. including a 
description of the liquor judging competition event; and 
E. 
The address and the location of areas where liquor for the liquor judging 
competition event may be stored by the applicant for the liquor judging competition 
event permit. 
5. Fee, The permit fee for a liquor judging liquor judging competition event permit 
under subsection 2 is $20. 
6. Ruling on application. Upon receipt of an application under subsection 4, the 
bureau shall immediately approve or deny the application. 
The bureau shall advise 
applicants that the permit for a liquor judging competition event under subsection 2 may 
be suspended or revoked pursuant to chapter 3 3. 
7. Up to 10 permitted liquor judging competition events per year; one liquor 
judging competition event per permit. A person eligible for a permit under subsection 2 
may obtain up to 10 permits under this section per calendar year. 
• 
8. Location and participation fee. A certificate of approval holder issued a pe1mit 
under this section may charge a fee for participation in a liquor judging competition event. 
The liquor judging competition event is not required to occur on premises licensed by the 
bureau. 
9. Conditions. The following conditions apply to a liquor judging competition event 
permitted under this section. 
A. If the venue for the liquor judging competition event is currently licensed for on-
premises consumption of liquor. the bureau shall temporarily suspend the authority of 
the on-premises retail licensee to sell liquor for on-premises consumption in an area 
designated for the liquor judging competition event. The on-premises retail licensee 
may sell liquor for on-premises consumption outside the area designated for the liquor 
judging competition event. 
B. The liquor judging competition event may not be open to the general public. 
C. Only judges and stewards may taste liquor entered in a liquor judging competition 
event. For purposes of this paragraph. "steward" means liquor judging competition 
event staff that work with judges in conducting the liquor judging competition event. 
D. Points of entry to the liquor judging competition event must be clearly marked and 
monitored to ensure consumption of liquor entered in the liquor judging competition 
event takes place only within the designated area of the liquor judging competition 
event. 
E. A minor may not attend the liquor judging competition event. 
F. A person who is visibly intoxicated may not be served. 
G. Homemade spirits may not be entered into a liquor judging competition event. 
H. Liquor may not be sold or offered for sale at a liquor judging competition event 
except as provided in paragraph A. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A:: to H.P. 662, L.D. 1033 
10. Rulemaking. The bureau may adopt routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to administer this section. 
Sec. 2. 28-A MRSA §1358 is enacted to read: 
§1358. Unlicensed manufacture 
A license for the manufacture of homemade liquor is not required under this Title if 
the conditions prescribed in this section are met. For purposes of this section, "homemade 
liquor" has the same meaning as in section 1057, subsection 1, paragraph A. 
1. Permitted liquor judging competition events. Homemade liquor may be removed 
from the premises where the homemade liquor was made if the homemade liquor is entered 
into a permitted liquor judging competition event as provided in section 1057. 
2. Prohibition on added spirits. Homemade liquor may not contain added spirits. 
3. Prohibition on sale. Homemade liquor may not be sold or offered for sale. 
4. Violation. A violation of this section is a Class E crime.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and authorizes one or more certificate of approval 
holders that are manufacturers to apply for a permit to host a liquor judging competition 
event subject to conditions. The amendment provides that a certificate of approval holder 
issued a liquor judging competition event permit may charge a fee for participation in a 
competition event and the competition event is not required to occur on premises licensed 
by the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic 
Beverages and Lottery Operations. 
The amendment also specifies that only judges and stewards may taste liquor entries 
in a liquor judging competition event; homemade spirits may not be entered into a liquor 
judging competition event; and liquor may not be sold or offered for sale at a liquor judging 
competition event. 
The amendment authorizes the bureau to adopt rules to administer the law regulating 
liquor judging competition events. The amendment also defines "homemade liquor" to 
mean malt liquor, wine or hard cider made by a person's own effo1ts in the person's home 
for personal use that is not offered for sale and that does not contain added spirits. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/17 /25 LRL 
LD 1033 
LR 1064(02) 
An Act to Regulate Alcoholic Beverage Competitions 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,1:__(H-271.t,\ 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
') 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
The additional worldoad associated with the minimal number of new cases filed in the court system does not require 
additional funding at this time. The collection of additional fines will increase General Fund or other dedicated 
revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations within the Department of 
Administrative and Financial Services to implement the provisions of this bill are expected to be minor and can be 
absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1064(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1