Maine

The Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations (BABLO) is a part of the State Department of Administrative & Financial Services.
The Bureau has responsibility for the licensing of all liquor licensees throughout Maine and the enforcement of Maine Liquor laws codified in Title 28-A of Maine law.

Maine is a control state for spirits. Through the assistance of the State Liquor and Lottery Commission, the Bureau has responsibility for the pricing, listing and delisting of spirits.

Laws & Rules:

• Liquor Statutes & Rules

Required: Yes

Name: Certificate of Approval – Wine

Fee:

• $100 – up to 120 gallons
• $1000 – more than 120 gallons

Expiration: 1 year from issue date

On June 1, 2018, the Bureau launched a new web portal for Certificate of Approval (COA) license holders to manage their licensing requirements, including:

• apply for a new COA license
• COA license renewals
• new brand and label registrations and renewals
• wholesaler territory designations for distribution of products
• price postings

As of June 1, 2018 , COA license renewals and brand and label registration renewals must be submitted through through the online services portal on the Bureau website. The Division will not accept renewals in a paper format.

Resources:

• • Guidance for Ownership Disclosure Requirements issued Aug. 9, 2024
  • Supplemental Ownership Form revised Aug. 2024
  • New Online Services for COA License
  • Certificate of Approval license application (paper)
  • Certificate of Approval license application (online)

Required: Yes

Fee: $10, $1 for each re-registration or label revision.

Approval: 2-3 weeks

Expiration:  same date as the expiration date of the manufacturer’s liquor license.

Revision Required: Tax Class, COLA change

Price Posting: Yes

All labels on liquor shall be in conformity with the regulations adopted by the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. All malt liquor and table wine labels must be approved by the Bureau. Vintage changes do not have to be re-registered.

Complete and submit the Malt or Wine Label Registration through the online services portal. Suppliers may manage their list of registered alcoholic beverage labels online through the Online Services portal.   Must include documentation of primary source and one set of sample labels for each brand for Division records and a territory appointment form.

All labels and variety pack registrations can be renewed within 60 days of the expiration date of the business’s Certificate of Approval (COA).

As of April 13, 2022, applications filed on paper will not be accepted.

Price changes from certificate of approval holders are required to be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the effective date and are effective on the first day of the month.

Brand & Label Registration Resources:

• April 13, 2022 Guidance on Private Labels and Collaborations
• Brand and Label Registration (online COA account)
• Brand and Label Registration (paper – for reference only)
• Primary Source Notice

Price Posting Resources:

• March 1, 2022 Guidance on Price Postings
• Table Wine Price Posting Form
• Fortified Wine Price Posting Form
• Sparkling Wine Price Posting Form

Bottle Bill Law Resources:

• Beverage Container Label Registration & Licensing Portal (Bottle Bill)
• Maine’s Bottle Bill Program

Franchise Law: Yes

Exclusive Territories: Required

Please review the law in its entirety and consult legal counsel prior to taking any action.

The supplier may not amend, cancel or terminate any agreement or cause a wholesaler to resign from an agreement unless good cause can be established or proven.

Good cause shall include, but not be limited to revocation of the wholesaler’s license, bankruptcy or insolvency of the wholesaler, assignment for benefit of creditors by a wholesaler or failure by a wholesaler to substantially comply without reasonable excuse or justification with any reasonable and material requirement imposed on them by the supplier.

Good cause shall not include the sale or purchase of a supplier.

Prior to any termination procedure initiated by the supplier, the wholesaler must be informed in writing of any claimed deficiency and given a reasonable time (not defined) to correct the deficiency. If no cure occurs within a reasonable time, then the supplier must give at least 90 days prior written notice of its intent to amend, cancel, terminate or not renew the agreement. Immediate termination is permitted for wholesaler’s insolvency, default on payments and conviction of a crime that affects the wholesaler’s ability to remain in business.

Any certificate of approval holder which amends, cancels, terminates or refuses to continue or renew any agreement, or causes a wholesale licensee to resign, unless for good cause shown, as defined in section 1454, from an agreement or unreasonably withholds consent to any assignment, transfer or sale of a wholesale licensee’s business, shall pay the wholesale licensee reasonable compensation for the value of the wholesale licensee’s business related to the terminated brand or brands. The value of the wholesale licensee’s business includes inventory and other tangible assets and its good will.

Exclusive territories are required and must be filed with the state.

Resources:

• MRS Title 28-A, sections 1451 to 1465
• Distributor Territory Appointment Form

Required: Yes

Name: Report Of Wine Shipments

Due Date: Monthly, by the 15th

Monthly reporting is required, even if no shipments were made during the period. Shipment reports and invoices must be e-mailed to mainecoashipinv.bablo@maine.gov

BABLO is planning to launch a new online licensing and reporting portal, BELLS, in Fall 2024. As part of this transition, they will be implementing a new spreadsheet format for monthly shipment reports.

Resources:

• Shipment Report
• Letter to Suppliers Regarding Transition to BELLS Reporting Format, July 22, 2024
• Maine BELLS Reporting Template

Available: Yes

Fee: $50, plus one-time $10 filing fee

Expiration: Dec. 31st of each year

All persons/businesses selling liquor must provide the Bureau with the names of any sales representatives within the State. The annual fee for a Sales Representative license is $50 plus a onetime $10 filing fee. When applying for a new license, the applicant must obtain a letter of authorization from the supplier they are representing.

Effective for 2019, applications for new licenses and renewals must be submitted online.

Resources:

• Online Application for Sales Representative License
• Notice Regarding Renewal of Sales Representative Licenses (12-6-2018)

License: Not Allowed

Interstate self-distribution is not permitted.

• Guidance for Ownership Disclosure Requirements issued Aug. 9, 2024
• Navigating Maine’s New Licensing and Reporting Requirements, Sept. 3, 2024 compliance alert 
• Alcohol Pricing & Promotions FAQs
• March 1, 2022 Guidance on Price Postings
• April 13, 2022 Guidance on Private Labels and Collaborations