Yesterday, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial signed into law House Bill 16-240 which amends the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.
“The owners of business premises in which alcoholic beverage samplings are to be conducted must be protected from any legal liability in the event of any accidents,” the governor said in his letter to Senate President Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, and Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Stanley T. Torres, R-Saipan, stated that alcoholic beverage sampling activities or events may be conducted at any on-sale or off-sale licensed establishment by the sampling licensee without any further restricting regulations or approval by the Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Control Division.
Fitial said he instructed Commerce Secretary Michael Ada to inform licensees wishing to conduct alcoholic beverage sampling to obtain waivers of liability from business owners of the premises in order to protect their interest.
