Sec. 1. 28-A MRSA §2, sub-§15, ¶W is enacted to read:

W.__"Wine bar" means a reputable place operated by a responsible person of good reputation where wine and food, not including a full course meal, are sold at tables, booths and counters for on-premises consumption.__For purposes of this paragraph, "full course meal" has the same meaning as in paragraph R, subparagraph (1).

Sec. 2. 28-A MRSA §11, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 373, §25, is further amended to read:

1. Connection with other licensed premises. Notwithstanding any other law or rule of the bureau, any retailer's licensed premise premises may be connected with any other retailer's licensed premise premises by a doorway or other apertures that are not securely and permanently sealed. A wine bar may share kitchen facilities with other licensed premises.

Sec. 3. 28-A MRSA §1004, sub-§3, ¶¶N and O, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, §4, is amended to read:

N. Restaurants; and

O. Vessels.; and

Sec. 4. 28-A MRSA §1004, sub-§3, ¶P is enacted to read:

P.__Wine bars.

SUMMARY

This bill amends current law to allow a licensed wine bar to share a kitchen with another establishment licensed for the sale of alcohol. "Wine bar" is defined to be an establishment that sells wine for on-premises consumption and that also sells food, not including a full course meal.