Which of the following substances would NOT be considered liquor under Maine law?

Under Maine law, liquor generally encompasses alcoholic beverages that contain a certain percentage of alcohol. This definition typically includes spirits, wines, and ciders. However, the critical factor that helps in identifying what constitutes liquor is the alcohol content.

Malt liquor typically refers to beer that is brewed with a high alcohol content, usually greater than 0.5%. In this context, malt liquor that contains less than 0.5% alcohol would not fall under the category of liquor as per Maine law. This is because beverages with such low alcohol content are classified differently, often being categorized as non-alcoholic beverages, which do not carry the same legal implications or regulations surrounding liquor sales and consumption.

Thus, malt liquor less than 0.5% does not meet the legal threshold for being classified as liquor under Maine law, making it the correct choice in the scenario presented. Other options listed – hard cider, spirits, and wine – all have sufficient alcohol content to qualify as liquor.