Off-Premises Beer and Table Wine Retail Sales Licenses

If your customers purchase beer and/or table wine to take home or consume elsewhere, you need an off-premises beer and table wine license.

License Types

Montana has four types of off-premises licenses: grocery store (convenience store), pharmacy, stand-alone, and sacramental wine. These licenses are not part of the quota system.

A grocery store license is used by a business with at least $3,000 worth of retail inventory, including three different types of the following:

  • Meat
  • Vegetables
  • Fruits
  • Bakery Items
  • Dairy Products
  • Household goods

See 16-4-115, MCA.

A pharmacy alcohol license is only available to a licensed pharmacy.

A stand-alone license is used by a business if 95% of its gross income comes from beer or wine sales. (16-4-115, MCA)

These businesses are usually specialty beer or wine shops.

A sacramental wine license is used by a business that sells church supplies, including sacramental wine to established religious organizations for religious purposes. See 16-4-313, MCA.

Fees

Off-Premises License Fees
License Type New License Fee New License Processing Fee Renewal Fee
Sacramental Wine License $50 $50 $50
Beer License $200 $200 $200
Table Wine License $200 $200 $200
Beer and Table Wine License $400 $200 $400

Note: The new license processing fee only applies to original applications and is not applied to renewals.

Late Payment Penalty

Late Payment Penalty for License Renewals
Days Late Penalty
1 33.33%
31 66.66%
61 100%

Application Requirements

All off-premises locations must follow certain rules, including:

  • You may only sell beer or table wine in its original packaging.
  • Your store must be physically separated from any business operating under another owner or license. This includes a separate on-premises alcohol business, such as a bar.
  • You must store all beer and table wine inventory on-site in an area identified in your floor plan. Contact ABCD with questions on storage.
  • Your customers may not drink alcohol sold for off-premises consumption anywhere on your licensed premises.

For a detailed list of requirements, please see ARM 42.12.147 and ARM 42.13.1105.

Application Options and Dates

You may apply for an off-premises license Beer and Wine License Application - Form OFF PREM (PDF) or through eStop Business Licenses.

Off-premises licenses are renewed annually and are due on the last day of the month the department received the original license application.

Example: If the application for the original license was received in March, the renewal date will always be the last day of March.