An Act To Make an Employee Who Sells Alcoholic Beverages or Tobacco to a Minor Responsible for Paying the Fine
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1555-B, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 305, §5, is amended to read:
2. Sales to minors prohibited. A person may not sell, furnish, give away or offer to sell, furnish or give away a tobacco product to any person under 18 years of age. Tobacco products may not be sold at retail to any person under 27 years of age unless the seller first verifies that person's age by means of reliable photographic identification containing the person's date of birth. An employer of a person who violates this subsection is not in violation of this subsection if the person violates this subsection without the knowledge of the person's employer.
Sec. 2. 28-A MRSA §705, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6. Persons responsible. If an employee of a licensee violates subsection 2, paragraph E or subsection 3, paragraph E without the knowledge of the licensee, the licensee is not liable for the violation.
summary
This bill amends the laws concerning sales of tobacco and alcohol to minors by removing the liability of an employer who did not have knowledge of an employee's violation.