Maine: Are happy hour drink specials legal?
Maine has no happy hour ban, but bans free drinks, unlimited drinks for a fixed price, and oversized servings.
Maine's law on banned practices bars free liquor, unlimited drinks for one price, drinking games, and any practice meant to make customers drink to excess. It also caps what one person can be served at one time, such as 4.5 ounces of spirits. The law does not mention reduced prices for part of the day, and it lets licensees raise prices when there is entertainment.
Conditions
- No free drinks
- No unlimited drinks for a fixed price
- Serving limits per person (e.g., 4.5 oz of spirits at one time)
- No advertising of banned practices
What the law says
A licensee, employee of a licensee or agent of a licensee may not: (1) Offer or deliver any free liquor to any person or group of persons; ... (3) Sell, offer to sell or deliver to any person or group of persons an unlimited number of drinks for a fixed price, except at private functions not open to the public; ... (5) Engage in any other practice the specific purpose of which is to encourage customers of the licensee to drink to excess.
Sources
- 28-A M.R.S. § 709 Official · legislature.maine.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations
- Website
- maine.gov
How bordering states compare
- New Hampshire Allowed with limitsNew Hampshire allows reduced-price drinks but requires food during promotions and bans free drinks.