§ 16-3-301 — Unlawful Purchases, Transfers, Sales, Or Deliveries -- Presumption Of Legal Age

Montana § 16-3-301

• Jurisdiction: Montana
• Title 16: ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND MARIJUANA
• Ch. 3: CONTROL OF LIQUOR, BEER, AND WINE
• Part 3: Retail Sales Restrictions

Text

16-3-301 . Unlawful purchases, transfers, sales, or deliveries -- presumption of legal age. (1) Except as allowed in 16-4-213 (8), it is unlawful for a licensed retailer to:
(a) purchase or acquire beer or wine from anyone except a brewery, winery, or distributor licensed under the provisions of this code;
(b) purchase or acquire table wine from anyone except a liquor store agent or winery or distributor licensed under the provisions of this code;
(c) purchase or acquire wine from anyone except a liquor store agent or winery;
(d) transport alcoholic beverages from one licensed premises or other facility to any other licensed premises owned by the licensee; or
(e) purchase or acquire liquor from anyone except an agency liquor store.
(2) It is unlawful for a licensed distributor to purchase beer, table wine, or sacramental wine from anyone except a brewery, winery, or distributor licensed or registered under this code.
(3) It is unlawful for a liquor store agent to purchase table wine or sacramental wine from anyone except a distributor or winery licensed under this code.
(4) 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.
(5) 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, on conviction, is subject to the penalty provided in 45-5-624 , 45-5-638 , and 45-5-639 . 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.
(6) 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.
(7) 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 on the representation and appearance of the purchaser that the purchaser was of legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages.
(8) A licensed retailer may purchase beer and table wine from a licensed in-state retailer and transport the purchased beer and table wine to the licensed retailer's premises. The department may penalize retailers purchasing beer and table wine from out-of-state retailers subject to this code. Purchases under this subsection are limited to a maximum of 6 gallons a day. (See compiler's comments for contingent termination of certain text.)

Legislative 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; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 591, L. 2023; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 728, L. 2023; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 81, L. 2025; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 155, L. 2025; amd. Sec. 33, Ch. 637, L. 2025.