Maine has a few booze laws that are pretty interesting, including a special exception for the holy day of drinking: Saint Patrick's Day.

Glass of light beer.
Valentyn Volkov
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Sit down, grab a drink and get ready for some fun trivia on alcohol and the great state of Maine.

We know most of our listeners like to booze a little (or a lot) when they get some free time. Nothing better than relaxing with a cold on after a hard day's work in Vacationland am I right? (Did we mention that we have a craft beer festival coming to the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland on January 30th?)

Well, because alcohol can lead to as many bad situations as good ones, it is subject to laws and restrictions to keep everything in check. The Consumerist found some strange alcohol laws in Maine that are not seen in many other states.

Here are some Maine laws you might know about:

1. You can buy booze earlier on Saint Patrick's Day

Maine respects the unofficial party time known as Saint Patrick's Day. It is the busiest day of the year for pubs and restaurants in the state, but sometimes it falls on a Sunday. That means the businesses were subject to a law that forbids the sale of alcohol before 9 a.m. on Sundays.

Businesses pushed to changes to the law that were signed by Governor Paul Lepage in 2013. This happened to be a year where the holiday fell on a Sunday, which won't happen again until 2019.

2. Drinking games are not allowed in bars

Beer pong experts and flip cup pros may want to show off their skills while out on the town, but that ain't gonna happen in Maine. Any games that promote drinking are banned in bars and restaurants. Alcohol also cannot be given away as a prize, but I'm sure that t-shirt you won instead makes up for it.

3. Only two drinks at a time

Sorry to those who like to triple fist their booze, but you cannot be served more than two drinks at a time. One for each hand in the state of Maine.

4. Kids can drink at home with supervision

This is something that happens in every state, but only about half of them allow it. Minors are allowed to drink at home if their parents supervise it. "Thanks mom and dad for watching me nail this keg stand!"

5. You cannot get drunk at Maine's state parks

Some of us like to get a little boozy when we interact with nature, but not at our state's parks. Liquor and public intoxication are not allowed in Maine's state parks, which is a shame if you are into that kind of thing.

6. Some communities are dry as a bone

There are places in Maine where you can't buy a drink at all. Ever since prohibition, the state has allowed communities to decide whether or not they want to prohibit the sale of alcohol with their borders.

The most recent story I could find on this said that there are still over 50 dry communities in Maine. The different rules have caused a headache for businesses and event organizers looking to sell some booze.


-Portland on Tap is coming January 30!-

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JANUARY 30, 2016 – PORTLAND, ME

We’re bringing Portland’s largest Craft Beer Festival back, but this year with two sessions at the Cross Insurance Arena! The 2nd Annual Portland on Tap – Saturday, January 30th with Session 1 from 1pm-4pm and Session 2 from 6pm-9pm (VIP starting at 12pm). Sample over 100 releases from some of America’s best craft breweries. Plus hang out in an atmosphere filled with live music, delicious food available for purchase, and great vendors.

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