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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1376S.P. 570 In Senate, April 1, 2025
An Act to Increase the Acceptable Level of Alcohol in a Low-alcohol
Spirits Product and to Increase Availability of Those Products
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on March 28, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec. Page 1 - 132LR1799(01)
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3 amended to read:
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5 containing spirits that has more than 1/2 of 1% of alcohol by volume but no more than 8%
6 15% of alcohol by volume. Beginning July 1, 2019, "low-alcohol spirits product" does not
7 mean a flavoring, such as an extract or concentrate, added to a malt beverage or wine that:
8 A. May or may not contain alcohol;
9 B. Is not intended to be consumed alone as a beverage or a food product but serves as
10 a flavor enhancement to a beverage or a food product; and
11 C. Is not, prior to being added to a malt beverage or wine, subject to excise tax under
12 chapter 65.
13 as repealed and replaced by PL 2021, c. 658, ยง49, is
14 amended to read:
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17 licensed to sell malt liquor or wine for on-premises or off-premises consumption may also
18 sell low-alcohol spirits products. All provisions of this Title applicable to malt liquor or
19 wine, except chapters 65 and 67, apply to low-alcohol spirits products when sold by persons
20 licensed to sell malt liquor or wine for on-premises or off-premises consumption.
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22 person licensed under section 1401 as an in-state wholesaler of malt liquor or wine may
23 also sell and distribute low-alcohol spirits products.
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25 This bill amends the definition of "low-alcohol spirits products" for the laws regarding
26 liquor by raising the maximum level of alcohol by volume of a low-alcohol spirits product
27 from 8% to 15%. The bill also provides that a low-alcohol spirits product may be sold by
28 a person licensed to sell malt liquor for on-premises and off-premises consumption. It
29 authorizes in-state wholesalers of malt liquor to sell and distribute low-alcohol spirits
30 products.
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