Montana Code Annotated 2021

TITLE 16. ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND MARIJUANA

CHAPTER 3. CONTROL OF LIQUOR, BEER, AND WINE

Part 3. Retail Sales Restrictions

Unlawful Purchases, Transfers, Sales, Or Deliveries -- Presumption Of Legal Age

16-3-301. Unlawful purchases, transfers, sales, or deliveries -- presumption of legal age. (1) It is unlawful for a licensed retailer to purchase or acquire beer or wine from anyone except a brewery, winery, or wholesaler licensed under the provisions of this code except as allowed in 16-4-213(8).

(2) It is unlawful for a licensed retailer to transport beer or wine from one licensed premises or other facility to any other licensed premises owned by the licensee except as allowed in 16-4-213(8).

(3) It is unlawful for a licensed retailer to purchase or acquire liquor from anyone except an agency liquor store except as allowed in 16-4-213(8).

(4) It is unlawful for a licensed wholesaler to purchase beer or wine from anyone except a brewery, winery, or wholesaler licensed or registered under this code.

(5) It is unlawful for any licensee, a licensee's employee, or any other person to sell, deliver, or give away or cause or permit to be sold, delivered, or given away any alcoholic beverage to:

(a) any person under 21 years of age; or

(b) any person actually, apparently, or obviously intoxicated.

(6) Any person under 21 years of age or any other person who knowingly misrepresents the person's qualifications for the purpose of obtaining an alcoholic beverage from the licensee is equally guilty with the licensee and, upon conviction, is subject to the penalty provided in 45-5-624. However, nothing in this section may be construed as authorizing or permitting the sale of an alcoholic beverage to any person in violation of any federal law.

(7) All licensees shall display in a prominent place in their premises a placard, issued by the department, stating fully the consequences for violations of the provisions of this code by persons under 21 years of age.

(8) For purposes of 45-5-623 and this title, the establishment of the following facts by a person making a sale of alcoholic beverages to a person under the legal age constitutes prima facie evidence of innocence and a defense to a prosecution for sale of alcoholic beverages to a person under the legal age:

(a) the purchaser falsely represented and supported with documentary evidence that an ordinary and prudent person would accept that the purchaser was of legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages;

(b) the appearance of the purchaser was such that an ordinary and prudent person would believe the purchaser to be of legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages; and

(c) the sale was made in good faith and in reasonable reliance upon the representation and appearance of the purchaser that the purchaser was of legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages. (See compiler's comments for contingent termination of certain text.)

History: (1), (2)En. Sec. 31, Ch. 106, L. 1933; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 46, Ex. L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 2815.33, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 166, L. 1951; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 240, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 94, L. 1973; Sec. 4-330, R.C.M. 1947; amd. and redes. 4-3-301 by Sec. 64, Ch. 387, L. 1975; Sec. 4-3-301, R.C.M. 1947; (3)En. Sec. 11, Ch. 84, L. 1937; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 221, L. 1939; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 71, L. 1953; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 240, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 94, L. 1973; Sec. 4-413, R.C.M. 1947; amd. and redes. 4-3-306 by Sec. 91, Ch. 387, L. 1975; Sec. 4-3-306, R.C.M. 1947; (4)En. Sec. 38, Ch. 84, L. 1937; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 226, L. 1947; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 161, L. 1951; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 240, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 94, L. 1973; Sec. 4-439, R.C.M. 1947; amd. and redes. 4-6-404 by Sec. 104, Ch. 387, L. 1975; Sec. 4-6-404, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 4-3-301, 4-3-306, 4-6-404(part); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 186, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 61, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 217, L. 1987; (6)En. Sec. 2, Ch. 233, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 498, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 501, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 516, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 568, L. 2021.