HP0514
LD 761
Session - 127th Maine Legislature
C "A", Filing Number H-225, Sponsored by
LR 1753
Item 2
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:

‘An Act To Authorize Free Samples of Liquor by a Restaurant’

Amend the bill by striking out all of section 3 and inserting the following:

Sec. 3. 28-A MRSA §1055  is enacted to read:

§ 1055 Liquor samples at restaurants

1 Liquor samples at restaurants.   A restaurant licensed by the bureau as a Class A restaurant or a Class A restaurant/lounge may offer complimentary samples of malt liquor, wine or spirits to a customer, subject to the following conditions:
A A sample may not be given to a person under 21 years of age;
B A person may not be provided more than 3 samples per day, and samples are subject to the following size limits:

(1) A sample of malt liquor may not exceed 3 ounces;

(2) A sample of wine may not exceed one ounce; and

(3) A sample of spirits may not exceed 1/2 of one ounce;

C A person who is visibly intoxicated may not be served;
D The sampling must be conducted during regular business hours of the Class A restaurant or Class A restaurant/lounge and must take place on the licensed premises only in areas of the Class A restaurant or Class A restaurant/lounge where liquor is normally served to customers;
E Samples may be provided only by employees of the Class A restaurant or Class A restaurant/lounge;
F Wine or malt liquor served as a sample must be purchased from a wholesale licensee; and
G Spirits served as a sample must be purchased from the State or the State's contracted wholesaler.

summary

This amendment changes the bill by allowing a Class A restaurant or Class A restaurant/lounge to offer samples of malt liquor, wine and spirits. The bill allows for restaurants to offer samples of wine only. The amendment provides that a person may not be given more than 3 samples per day. The amendment also establishes sample size limits. A sample of malt liquor may not exceed 3 ounces. A sample of wine may not exceed one ounce. A sample of spirits may not exceed 1/2 of one ounce. Finally, the amendment specifies that samples must be provided in areas of the restaurant where liquor is normally served. Like the bill, the amendment provides that samples are for customers and may not be provided to minors or visibly intoxicated persons.


Top of Page