AUGUSTA – Despite members’ concerns about overregulation of business, the House on Thursday narrowly passed a resolve to study the effect of alcohol marketing on minors.

The motion, which will now go to the Senate, would direct the Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Liquor Licensing and Compliance to determine if public policies are effective in preventing youth access to alcohol, and report back to lawmakers. It passed 74-59.

The resolve was sponsored by Rep. Bruce MacDonald, D-Boothbay, after he learned that a liquor store opened across the street from the Boothbay Region High School.

“While our Attorney General, Steve Rowe, is dutifully traveling throughout the state telling our students about the dangers of underage drinking, we allow a liquor store to set up shop right across from a school,” MacDonald said. “I find this problematic.”

Patricia Blanchette, D-Bangor, spoke in opposition to the bill. She called it a waste of the department’s limited resources for something that she said isn’t going to accomplish anything.

While the state’s at it, she said, it might as well ban window signs at TJ Maxx that have the potential to give young boys impure thoughts. She said Maine overregulates business.

“Give the people in Maine a break, and let them exercise common sense,” she said, later adding: “Do you think your kids live in a bubble and they don’t know what’s out there?”

Rep. John Patrick, D-Rumford, rebutted what he called Blanchette’s “diatribe.”

“It’s not an anti-business bill; it won’t do anything but study at no cost,” he said. “If there’s nothing, then nothing’s going to happen.”

Rep. Joan Nass, R-Acton, opposed the idea of the study.

“We’ve studied, studied, studied,” Nass said. “Now we need action.”

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