Sec. 1. 28-A MRSA §1051, sub-§6 is enacted to read:

6.__Liquor tasting on retail licensee's premises.__A licensee may not give away free drinks of liquor to customers, patrons, members or guests in any manner, except that distillers, licensed sales representatives, the State's wholesale liquor provider and certificate of approval holders, with the written permission of the bureau, may rent or lease an area or room from an on-premises retail licensee for the purpose of inviting retail licensees to taste-test liquor or fortified wine products.__Liquor tasting must be conducted during hours that are authorized by the bureau for the sale of the product on the premises.

The following conditions apply to all taste-testing conducted under this subsection.

A.__The distiller, licensed sales representative, State's wholesale liquor provider or certificate of approval holder may provide the products for taste-testing only if all taxes and premiums required by this Title have been paid.

B.__The taste-testing activity may be conducted only within a special designated area or room.

C.__The taste-testing activity may be open only to invited industry media guests and retail licensees or their authorized agents and not to family members, guests or the general public.

D.__After the taste-testing activity is concluded, the distiller, licensed sales representative, wholesale liquor provider or certificate of approval holder, as applicable, shall remove all products supplied for the taste-testing activity from the retail licensee's premises.

SUMMARY

This bill allows distillers, licensed sales representatives, the State's wholesale liquor provider and certificate of approval holders to sponsor liquor tasting events.