Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 16. ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND MARIJUANA

CHAPTER 3. CONTROL OF LIQUOR, BEER, AND WINE

Part 3. Retail Sales Restrictions

Fundraising Events For Nonprofit And Tax-Exempt Organizations

16-3-316. Fundraising events for nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations. (1) A nonprofit organization governed under Title 35, chapter 2, or an organization designated as tax-exempt under the provisions of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501(c), as amended, may raffle or auction alcoholic beverages at fundraising events. Any alcoholic beverage raffled or auctioned must be given by the organization to the raffle or auction winner sealed in its original package.

(2) If the fundraising event is held on the premises of a business licensed under this code or on premises for which a permit has been issued under this code, the alcoholic beverage may not be consumed on the premises. An alcoholic beverage that is on a licensee's premises solely for a fundraising event under this section does not constitute a violation by the licensee of 16-3-301(1)(a) or 16-6-303.

(3) A nonprofit or tax-exempt organization may hold no more than four events per calendar year at which alcoholic beverages are raffled or auctioned. The duration of each event must be announced at the time any raffle tickets are sold or auction bids are received. Raffles and auctions held pursuant to this section must be to directly support bona fide charitable, nonprofit, or tax-exempt activities.

(4) An alcoholic beverage for raffle or auction must be:

(a) acquired, whether by purchase or donation, by the organization from a retailer or manufacturer licensed under the provisions of this code;

(b) acquired, whether by purchase at not less than the posted price or by donation, by the organization from an agency liquor store; or

(c) received by the organization as a donation at no cost to the organization from any other person except one licensed as a wholesaler or distributor under this code.

(5) No proceeds from the raffle or auction of alcoholic beverages may go to anyone who provided the alcoholic beverages to the organization for the raffle or auction.

(6) For a raffle or auction described in subsection (1), raffle tickets may not be sold to, and auction bids may not be solicited or received from, any person under 21 years of age. The organization raffling or auctioning alcoholic beverages may not sell, deliver, or give away any alcoholic beverage to a person under 21 years of age or to any person actually, apparently, or obviously intoxicated.

(7) As used in this section:

(a) "auction" means the sale of an item or items, which may include alcoholic beverages, whereby the item for sale is sold to the highest bidder at the bid price. An auctioned item or items may have a reserve price.

(b) "raffle" means an event in which a nonprofit or tax-exempt organization sells tickets and each ticket gives the purchaser of the ticket the chance to win a prize, which may include alcoholic beverages, with the winner determined by a random drawing.

History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 86, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 591, L. 2023; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 622, L. 2023.