A bill designed to crack down on restaurants that don’t serve a full pint of beer was vetoed Monday by Gov. Paul LePage.
LD 122, An Act to Standardize Pints of Beer Sold in Maine, would have ensured that all beer sold as pints contain a full 16 ounces. The bill initially passed with support in the State House, with opposition from Republicans, and passed unanimously in the State Senate.
In a letter to the Honorable Members of the 127th Legislature, Governor LeParge explained the veto stating the bill failed the test of whether it “truly helps the people of Maine.”
“If any restaurants in our state provide unsatisfactory service or serve smaller than expected portions to the public, then I trust the people of Maine will vote with their feet—and their wallets—to frequent the establishments that serve them well and to avoid those that do not,” he wrote. “Additional government intervention into the free market is not required to address this issue.”
The Maine Restaurant Association, amongst others, felt that the bill was unnecessary due to consumer protection laws.
“We always felt that truth in advertising law covered this issue,” said Greg Dugal, president and CEO of the Maine Restaurant Association. “There was no need to create a new law to protect consumers rights when it already existed. We definitely believe the consumer deserves to get what they pay for, but existing law is sufficient.”
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.