Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 16. ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND MARIJUANA

CHAPTER 3. CONTROL OF LIQUOR, BEER, AND WINE

Part 3. Retail Sales Restrictions

Sale By Retailer For Consumption On Premises

16-3-302. Sale by retailer for consumption on premises. (1) It is lawful for a licensed retailer to sell and serve beer, either on draft or in containers, to the public to be consumed on the premises of the retailer.

(2) It is lawful for a licensee who has an all-beverages license that the licensee uses at a golf course to sell alcoholic beverages and for a licensee who has a golf course beer and wine license issued under 16-4-109 to sell beer and wine:

(a) in the building or other structural premises constituting the clubhouse or primary indoor recreational quarters of the golf course;

(b) upon department approval and submission of a fee, in an additional building or other structure, one per 9 holes of the golf course, that is designed to serve golfers during the course of play; and

(c) at any place within the boundaries of the golf course, from a portable satellite vehicle or other movable satellite device that is moved from place to place.

(3) It is lawful to consume alcoholic beverages sold as provided in subsection (2) at any place within the boundaries of the golf course, whether inside or outside of a building or other structure.

(4) (a) It is lawful for a licensee who has an all-beverages license or a resort area all-beverages license to sell alcoholic beverages:

(i) in the building or other structural premises constituting the primary indoor lodging quarters of a hotel or other short-term lodging facility;

(ii) if the licensee's premises include a swimming pool, in a permanent, licensed alcohol service structure in the swimming pool area separate from the main licensed premises;

(iii) if the licensee's premises include a ski hill, in up to two permanent, licensed alcohol service structures separate from the main licensed premises within the exterior boundaries of the same premises that are owned, leased, or otherwise under the control of and operated by the same property owner, licensee, and if applicable, concessionaire;

(iv) if the licensee's premises include a golf course, the premises in addition to the main licensed premises may include:

(A) the building or alcohol service structure constituting the clubhouse or primary recreational quarters of the golf course that is separate from the main licensed premises; and

(B) the outdoor area within the boundaries of the golf course.

(b) Buildings or structural premises allowed under this subsection (4) may be separate from the building comprising the main licensed premises but must otherwise meet the premises suitability requirements of 16-3-311. The licensee shall pay an application fee of $100 for each area allowed under this subsection (4).

(5) (a) It is lawful for a licensee who has an all-beverages license or has a retail license issued under 16-4-105 to sell and serve alcoholic beverages for which the licensee is licensed at a guest ranch as defined in 16-1-106. The guest ranch must be owned by the licensee or by a concessionaire with which the licensee has a concession agreement under 16-4-418. For a license operated at a guest ranch, alcoholic beverages may be served anytime within the outdoor portions of the licensed premises and in one permanent building at any time during the hours allowed under 16-3-304.

(b) An applicant or licensee desiring to operate a license as described in this subsection (5) shall submit to the department a premises floorplan that describes the premises as a guest ranch and depicts both the indoor and outdoor portions of the premises. The floorplan must be submitted to the department as part of a license application or as part of a premises alteration request as described in 16-3-311(2).

(c) A license operated at a guest ranch is subject to the requirements that are applicable to retail licenses generally, including the premises suitability provisions of 16-3-311, except that:

(i) the premises may include any number of temporary, mobile, or partial structures, including but not limited to tents, teepees, yurts, picnic shelters, recreational vehicles, wagons, trailers, or any other structures that are not permanent buildings, provided that all temporary, mobile, or partial structures may not be used for alcohol storage purposes unless approved by the department, and may only be used for alcohol service and consumption if they remain within the licensee's approved outdoor premises area;

(ii) the premises may include any outdoor areas in which the licensee or concessionaire has possessory interest, which may be demonstrated by property ownership records, a lease agreement, a concession agreement, or other evidence of possessory interest acceptable to the department;

(iii) the premises may be separated by roadways, waterways, natural barriers, or fence lines if the premises are otherwise contiguous;

(iv) a perimeter barrier is not required if the property line is otherwise marked; and

(v) the premises may be identified on the license by legal description rather than by building address.

(d) For the purposes of this subsection (5), the term "permanent building" means a fixed, nonmobile structure with floor-to-ceiling exterior walls, a full roof, electrical wiring, and plumbing fixtures.

History: En. Sec. 29, Ch. 106, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 2815.31, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 4-328, R.C.M. 1947; amd. and redes. 4-3-302 by Sec. 63, Ch. 387, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 4-3-302; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 646, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 195, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 622, L. 2023; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 728, L. 2023.