Maine Revised Statutes
Subchapter 2: SPECIFIC LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
28-A §1072. Clubs

§1072. Clubs
1. Issuance of licenses. The bureau may issue licenses under this section for the sale of spirits, wine and malt liquor to be consumed on the premises to clubs, as defined in section 2, subsection 15, paragraph D.
[PL 1997, c. 373, §99 (AMD).]
2. Requirements. Except as provided in subsection 3, for at least one year immediately before filing the application for a license, a club must have:
A. Been in continuous operation and existence; [PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]
B. Regularly occupied as owner or lessee a suitable clubhouse or quarters for use of club members; [PL 2021, c. 658, §188 (AMD).]
C. Held regular meetings; [PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]
D. Conducted its business through officers regularly elected; and [PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]
E. Charged and collected dues from club members. [PL 2021, c. 658, §188 (AMD).]
[PL 2021, c. 658, §188 (AMD).]
3. Exception to one-year requirement. Any organization in the State having a charter from a national organization is exempt from the one-year requirement of subsection 2 if it has been established for not less than 3 months.
[PL 1993, c. 730, §44 (AMD).]
4. Register of club members. Every club shall keep and maintain a register of the name, identity and address of each club member. The club shall allow any liquor inspector or other authorized agent of the bureau to inspect the register at any reasonable time.
[PL 2021, c. 658, §189 (AMD).]
5. Sale of liquor only to club members and guests; exception. Except as provided in paragraph A or B, licensed clubs may not sell liquor to anyone except club members and their guests accompanying them.
A. Licensed veterans' and fraternal organizations and social clubs may sell liquor to members of the same national or affiliated international organization and to members of auxiliaries of the same national or affiliated international organization and their guests accompanying them. [PL 1987, c. 45, Pt. A, §4 (NEW).]
B. At the discretion of and by agreement with the bureau, a licensed veterans' organization may, subject to time-of-day and seasonal limitations defined at the time of license approval, sell liquor to the public if the organization has a valid license and is located on an island off the coast of the State that is provided with ferry service pursuant to Title 23, Part 6 and Title 35‑A, chapter 51. When a licensed veterans' organization sells liquor to the public pursuant to this paragraph, the premises at which the liquor is sold are deemed a public place for purposes of Title 22, chapter 262 during the time the public is invited or allowed to be present, and smoking, as defined in Title 22, section 1541, subsection 6, is prohibited during that time. [PL 2021, c. 658, §190 (AMD).]
[PL 2021, c. 658, §190 (AMD).]
6. Sales in original containers forbidden. A club may not sell spirits in the original container.
[PL 2021, c. 658, §191 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1987, c. 45, §A4 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 342, §96 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 730, §44 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 373, §99 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 44, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 658, §§188-191 (AMD).