Montana Code Annotated 1997

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     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 from anyone except a brewer or wholesaler licensed under the provisions of this code.
     (2) It is unlawful for a licensed retailer to transport beer from one licensed premises or other facility to any other licensed premises owned by the licensee.
     (3) It is unlawful for any licensee, his or her employee or employees, 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;
     (b) any intoxicated person or any person actually, apparently, or obviously intoxicated.
     (4) Any person under 21 years of age or other person who knowingly misrepresents his or her qualifications for the purpose of obtaining an alcoholic beverage from such licensee is equally guilty with said licensee and, upon conviction thereof, is subject to the penalty provided in 45-5-624. However, nothing herein contained may be construed as authorizing or permitting the sale of an alcoholic beverage to any person in violation of any federal law.
     (5) It is further mandatory under the provisions of this code that all licensees display in a prominent place in their premises a placard as issued by the department stating fully the consequences for violations of the provisions of this code by persons under 21 years of age.
     (6) For purposes of this title and 45-5-623, 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.

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