Sec. 1. 28-A MRSA §1205-A is enacted to read:

§1205-A.__Taste testing of malt liquor

1.__Taste testing on off-premises retail licensee's premises.__Subject to the conditions in subsection 2, the bureau may authorize an off-premises retail licensee that stocks 75% of the available inventory of Maine-brewed malt liquor to conduct taste testings of malt liquor on that licensee's premises.__Any other consumption of alcoholic beverages on an off-premises retail licensee's premises is prohibited.

2.__Conditions on taste-testing activities.__The following conditions apply to taste-testing activities under this section:

A.__No malt liquor may be served to persons who have not yet attained 21 years of age;

B.__No person may be served more than a total of 5 ounces of malt liquor;

C.__No person may be charged a fee for any malt liquor served as part of a taste-testing activity;

D.__No person may be served who is visibly intoxicated;

E.__Taste testing is limited to a designated area;

F.__Taste testing must be conducted within the hours of retail sale established in this Title;

G.__The retail licensee must obtain the written permission of the bureau before conducting any taste-testing activity;

H.__A retail licensee may conduct no more than one taste testing per month;

I.__Taste testing is not allowed in any municipality where on-premises and off-premises sales are not allowed pursuant to chapter 5;

J.__The retail licensee must notify the bureau of the date and time scheduled for an on-premises taste testing; and

K.__The retail licensee must purchase all malt liquor served at a taste testing from a wholesale licensee.