By SUSAN M. COVER
Staff Writer Tuesday, March 13, 2007

A bill sponsored by Rep. W. Bruce MacDonald, D-Boothbay, would increase from 300 feet to 750 feet the distance from a school within which an agency liquor store can be located.

MacDonald, backed by Boothbay Harbor residents, Police Chief Robert Hasch and one high school student, said the local Rite-Aid in Boothbay Harbor, which sells hard liquor, is too close to the high school and YMCA.

By MacDonald's estimate, it's 640 feet from Boothbay Region High School.

He said alcohol is a problem among teenagers in Maine. It hurts brain development, MacDonald said, citing studies that show teens wouldn't abuse alcohol as much if it were harder to get.

"We know that access creates more problems, and that reducing access helps to minimize those bad outcomes," he told members of the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee. MacDonald's bill would not grant exceptions for existing stores. If a store is closer than 750 feet to a school, the Maine State Police would have to hold a meeting in that town and allow the store to continue to sell hard liquor only if it is kept in a locked display case.

Opponents of the bill -- the Maine Liquor Agents Alliance, Hannaford Bros. Co., and others -- said it would be costly to store all liquor in locked cases and that it's a statewide solution for a Boothbay Harbor problem.

"During the past 20 years during which the current 300-foot limitation on agency store location has been in effect, there has been a complete absence of formal history of complaints about the sufficiency of the 300-foot limit," said Ralph B. Pears, a lobbyist who spoke on behalf of RSVP Beverages, Portland.

Rite-Aid spokeswoman Jody Cook said the Boothbay Harbor store has not had any violations for selling to minors and that its corporate policy is to ask for identification from anyone younger than 40.

When the store is crowded -- as it might be when school lets out -- the store has associates walk the aisles to monitor activity, she said.

Cook, who did not attend the public hearing, said the company doesn't have any comment on the bill.

"Of course, our intention is to only have that product available to adult consumers," she said.

Members of the legislative committee questioned MacDonald at length about his bill, prompting one to joke that he wins the prize for answering the most questions on any bill.

Rep. Bonnie Gould, R-South Berwick, said she needed more information about whether going from 300 to 750 feet would have a significant impact on whether teens abuse alcohol.

"It seems to me the access comes from my refrigerator or my unlocked liquor cabinet," Gould said.

Lt. Patrick Fleming of the Maine State Police offered testimony from the department that was neither for nor against the bill. While State Police want to keep teens away from alcohol, the bill would cost them money and time, he said. With more than 300 agency stores in the state, it would be time-consuming to remeasure each one, he said.

MacDonald said he would be willing to amend the bill so that the cost could be spread out over time.

Leah Hodder-Romano, 17, a junior at Boothbay Region High School, said students get a mixed message when they are warned about the dangers of drunken driving but can see banners advertising alcohol when they look out the window at school. Rep. Joan Nass, R-Acton, asked whether being close to the school might deter students from trying to get access because they would fear running into a teacher in the store.

"It might not be logical to go across the street where there are teachers, but it's not logical to get drunk either," Hodder-Romano replied.

Susan Cover -- 623-1056

scover@centralmaine.com