Maine Revised Statutes Title 28-A Sec. 1403-A – Direct shipment of wine
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1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. “Direct shipper” means a winery that has obtained a wine direct shipper license under subsection 2. [PL 2009, c. 373, §1 (NEW).]
B. “Outside the State” means any state other than Maine and any territory or possession of the United States, but does not include a foreign country. [PL 2009, c. 373, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2009, c. 373, §1 (NEW).]
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 28-A Sec. 1403-A
- Alcohol: means the substance known as ethyl alcohol, hydrated oxide of ethyl or spirit of wine which is commonly produced by the fermentation or distillation of grain, starch, molasses, sugar, potatoes or other substances, and includes all dilutions and mixtures of these substances. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 28-A Sec. 2
- bottle: means to package spirits, wine or malt liquor for sale in containers. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 28-A Sec. 2
- Bureau: means the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 28-A Sec. 2
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Person: means an individual, partnership, corporation, firm, association or other legal entity. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 28-A Sec. 2
- Small winery: means a person that ferments and ages:
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 28-A Sec. 2United States: includes territories and the District of Columbia. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72 Wine: includes , but is not limited to, hard cider, wine coolers, table wine, still wine, sparkling wine, champagne and fortified wine that do not contain more than 24% alcohol by volume. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 28-A Sec. 2 Winery: means a person that ferments and ages wine. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 28-A Sec. 2 Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
2. Direct shipment of wine. A small winery or other winery holding a federal basic wine manufacturing permit located within or outside the State may obtain a wine direct shipper license by filing with the bureau an application in a form determined by the bureau accompanied by an application fee of not more than $200, a copy of the applicant’s current federal basic wine manufacturing permit and a list of wine labels to be shipped in accordance with this section.
[PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. V, §46 (AMD).]
3. Direct shipper application. Before sending a shipment to a resident of this State, a direct shipper must file an application for a wine direct shipper license under subsection 2 with the bureau on a form issued by the bureau along with a true copy of its current winery license issued in this State or another state and a $100 registration fee.
[PL 2021, c. 658, §242 (AMD).]
4. Direct shipment requirements. A direct shipper may only ship wine that was produced by the direct shipper in accordance with the direct shipper’s federal basic wine manufacturing permit to a recipient for personal use and not for resale. A direct shipper may not ship wine products commonly known as “wine coolers.” A direct shipper shall label each package to be shipped in accordance with this section so that it conspicuously reads “CONTAINS ALCOHOL: SIGNATURE OF A PERSON 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER IS REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY.”
[PL 2009, c. 373, §1 (NEW).]
5. Common carrier. Shipments made in accordance with this chapter must be made by a common carrier and must be accompanied by a shipping label that clearly indicates the name of the direct shipper and the name and address of the recipient. The common carrier shall obtain the signature of a person 21 years of age or older at the address listed on the shipping label prior to delivery of the shipment. The common carrier shall request photographic identification from the person signing for the shipment and verify that the person is 21 years of age or older.
[PL 2009, c. 373, §1 (NEW).]
6. Bottle size and case limit.
[PL 2023, c. 274, §1 (RP).]
6-A. Shipment limit. A direct shipper may not ship a container of wine of less than 250 milliliters and may ship no more than 9,000 milliliters per shipment no more than 12 times to any one recipient address in a calendar year.
[PL 2023, c. 274, §2 (NEW).]
7. Prohibited shipping areas. A direct shipper may not ship to any address in an area identified by the bureau as a prohibited shipping area or a local option area.
[PL 2009, c. 373, §1 (NEW).]
8. License renewal. A direct shipper may annually renew its wine direct shipper license with the bureau by paying a $50 renewal fee and providing the bureau with a true copy of its current winery license issued in this State or another state.
[PL 2021, c. 658, §243 (AMD).]
9. Sales tax registration and payment required. As a condition of receiving a license, a shipper located outside the State shall comply with the provisions of Title 36, Part 3, including all requirements relating to registration as a seller and the collection, reporting and remittance of the sales and use taxes of the State, and shall agree to be subject to the jurisdiction of the State for purposes of the enforcement of those obligations. The requirements of this subsection apply notwithstanding any provision of law of the State to the contrary.
[PL 2021, c. 658, §244 (AMD).]
10. Payment of excise taxes. A direct shipper located outside the State shall annually pay to the bureau all excise taxes due on sales to residents of the State in the preceding year, the amount of such taxes to be calculated as if the sales were in the State.
[PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. XXXX, §5 (AMD); PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. XXXX, §13 (AFF).]
11. Report. A direct shipper shall submit a report to the bureau annually in a manner and form prescribed by the bureau that includes the total number of cases of wine shipped to recipients in the State and, for a direct shipper located in the State, shipments made outside the State, the name and residence address of shipment recipients in the State, the common carrier used to deliver the shipments and the date, quantity and purchase price of each shipment.
[PL 2013, c. 476, Pt. A, §31 (AMD).]
12. Audit. The bureau may perform an audit of a direct shipper’s records relevant to compliance with this section. A direct shipper shall provide copies of any records requested by the bureau within 10 business days of that request.
[PL 2009, c. 373, §1 (NEW).]
13. Violation. A person, including a common carrier, who knowingly causes a direct shipment in violation of this section is subject to a fine up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for any subsequent violation of this section. A direct shipper or common carrier who knowingly delivers wine to a person under 21 years of age is subject to a fine up to $5,000. The bureau may suspend or revoke a wine direct shipper license for failure to comply with the shipping limits and reporting requirements required by this section. The bureau may accept payment of an offer in compromise in lieu of suspension; such payments must be determined by rules adopted by the bureau.
[PL 2009, c. 373, §1 (NEW).]
14. Jurisdiction. A direct shipper, as a condition of licensure, is subject to the jurisdiction and enforcement authority of the State for the purposes of enforcement of this section.
[PL 2009, c. 373, §1 (NEW).]
15. (TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 7/01/25) Not subject to beverage container law. Notwithstanding Title 38, chapter 33, wine shipped pursuant to this section does not require a refund value for beverage container control purposes.
[PL 2015, c. 166, §5 (AMD).]
15. (TEXT REPEALED 7/01/25) Not subject to beverage container law.
[PL 2023, c. 252, §1 (RP); PL 2023, c. 252, §3 (AFF).]
15-A. (TEXT EFFECTIVE 7/01/25) Compliance with beverage container laws. Wine shipped pursuant to this section must comply with Title 38, chapter 33.
[PL 2023, c. 252, §2 (NEW); PL 2023, c. 252, §3 (AFF).]
16. Rules. The bureau shall adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2?A.
[PL 2009, c. 373, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2009, c. 373, §1 (NEW). PL 2011, c. 629, §§29, 30 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. V, §46 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. XXXX, §5 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. XXXX, §13 (AFF). PL 2013, c. 476, Pt. A, §31 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 166, §5 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 658, §§242-244 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 252, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 252, §3 (AFF). PL 2023, c. 274, §§1, 2 (AMD).