An Act To Allow the Licensing of Minibars in Hotel Rooms
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 28-A MRSA §2, sub-§19-A is enacted to read:
19-A. Minibar. "Minibar" means a self-contained, locking cabinet, refrigerated or unrefrigerated, designed for the storage and dispensation of beverages and related merchandise.
Sec. 2. 28-A MRSA §1012, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6. Minibar license. The operator of a hotel holding a license under section 1061 or holding a license required under Title 30-A, section 3811 may obtain a license allowing the placement of a minibar in a room in that hotel subject to the conditions of this subsection and any applicable rules established by the bureau.
A. The fee for a minibar license for a hotel holding an existing license under section 1061 is $100 annually plus $5 for each room in which a minibar is placed, not to exceed a maximum of $900 per hotel;
B. The fee for a minibar license for a hotel holding an existing license under Title 30-A, section 3811 is $100 annually plus $10 for each room in which a minibar is placed;
C. A minibar may be stocked with beer, wine and distilled spirits as well as other complementary merchandise;
D. Supplies of beer and wine for a hotel minibar must be purchased from a wholesale licensee;
E. Supplies of distilled spirits for a hotel minibar must be purchased from an agency liquor store;
F. A hotel must maintain invoices for all alcoholic beverages stocked in a minibar and must maintain records of all sales of alcoholic beverages sold or dispensed from a minibar;
G. A minibar must be equipped with a secure locking device that may be unlocked only by persons 21 years of age or older;
H. A hotel room equipped with a minibar may not be rented to a person under 21 years of age unless the minibar is secured in a manner that prevents access by a person under 21 years of age; and
I. The registered occupant of a hotel room equipped with a minibar is liable for any violation of liquor laws by anyone under 21 years of age who also occupies or enters the room.
The Department of Public Safety may adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
summary
Under this bill, a hotel owner that has or wants minibars in hotel rooms may, but is not required to, obtain a license for the minibars.