Effective March 18, 2020, at 6:00 pm, Maine Governor Mills took further steps to respond to COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of Maine people.  While all restaurants and bars remain closed to dine-in service until March 31, 2020, on-premise licensees, such as restaurants and bars among others, who offer carry-out, delivery, and/or drive thru food service are temporarily permitted to also sell and deliver beer and wine in the original manufacturers’ sealed containers.  The Licensee or its employee must make the deliveries (no third-party deliveries) and must ensure that the recipient is 21 years of age or older.

Effective March 18, 2020, New Hampshire Governor Sununu also temporarily authorized on-premise licensees, such as restaurants, diners and bars, to sell beer and wine in the original manufacturers’ sealed containers for take-out and/or delivery.  This temporary authority currently extends to April 6, 2020, the date through which dine-in service is prohibited.  On-premise licensees must comply with New Hampshire regulations that apply to off-premise licensees.  The Licensee or its employee must make the deliveries (no third-party deliveries) and must ensure the recipient is 21 years of age or older.

We at the Bennett Law Firm are proud to say that we actively solicited these emergency changes to assist our clients and the many businesses affected by the Executive Orders closing dine-in service.

If you have any questions regarding this legislation or other alcohol licensing or violations questions in Maine or New Hampshire, please contact Peter Bennett (pbennett@charlesc48.sg-host.com) or Joanne Simonelli (jsimonelli@charlesc48.sg-host.com).