The alcohol laws of Maine regulate the sale and possession of alcohol in the state of Maine in the United States. Maine is an alcoholic beverage control state.[1]
The serving of alcohol in the State of Maine is supervised by the State Liquor and Lottery Commission. The Commission consists of five members appointed by the Governor of Maine and confirmed by the Maine Legislature. They meet monthly to provide public oversight and review of the performance and operational activities of the Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations (BABLO).[2]
BABLO is responsible for regulating the business practices of the alcohol industry, for creating a favorable economic climate for the industry, and for prohibiting sales to minors. They also lease the State monopoly on the warehousing and distribution of distilled spirits and fortified wines; the lease was held by the Maine Beverage Company, which signed a 10-year lease in 2004.[3] A new 10-year lease was awarded to Maine Beverage Company's subcontractor, Pine State Trading Co, that took effect on July 1, 2014. It is expected by officials that the new lease, designed to generate money to pay debt owed to Maine hospitals, will allow prices to be reduced on popular spirits. This is an attempt to prevent the loss of sales to New Hampshire, which has lower prices and no sales tax.[4]
The Maine Department of Public Safety, through the Maine State Police's Liquor and Licensing Division, is responsible for licensing the manufacture, importation, storage, transportation and sale of all liquor. They also administer those laws relating to licensing and the collection of taxes on malt liquor and wine.[5]
Title 28-A of the Maine Revised Statutes contains the laws and rules regulating liquor.[6]