Distribution | Read Time: 2 minutes

Rules for Alcohol Sample Tastings in Florida

When it comes to alcohol beverage tastings in Florida, the rules are different for beer, wine, and liquor. For this purpose, a “tasting” is an even at which a sample of the alcoholic product is given directly to an individual customer for free. Generally, customers cannot be charged for the sample (but exceptions for Florida Farm Wineries and craft...

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Beverage Legislation | Read Time: 3 minutes

2021 Florida Craft Distilleries Law: General Overview

The 2021 Florida Craft Distilleries Law changes the legal landscape for all craft distilleries in 3 main areas: (1) what they can make and sell to consumers, (2) where they can sell it, and (3) how big they can get. A fourth aspect of the law–the creation of “destination entertainment venues”–will be explored in a future blog post. Florida...

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Beverage Legislation | Read Time: 3 minutes

How to Take Advantage of Florida’s 2015 Beverage Law

When Governor Rick Scott signed into law CS/SB 186, he largely ended Florida’s state of growler confusion. However, the 2015 beverage law–which is now known as Florida Law 2015-12–will do much more to improve the status of craft beverages in Florida when it becomes effective July 1, 2015. This article describes how Florida’s breweries, distilleries, distributors, and vendors can...

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Beverage Legislation | Read Time: 6 minutes

Florida Beverage Industry Bills Update – May 4, 2014

The 2014 session of the Florida Legislature ended, Friday, May 2. Twelve bills were proposed to change Florida laws governing the beverage industry. None of them got passed by both houses of the Legislature. The only beverage bill that got to a floor vote–Senate Bill 1714, which passed the Senate by a vote of 30-10–was loudly decried by Florida...

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Beverage Legislation | Read Time: 6 minutes

Florida Beverage Industry Bills Update – April 27, 2014

***Updated April, 27, 2014 9:00 pm to reflect proposed strike-all amendment to Senate Bill 1714 filed by bill sponsor, Senator Kelli Stargel. Updates reflected as struck-through and underlined text.*** This past week saw action on only two beverage bills, but the action was dramatic. With one week remaining in the 2014 Florida legislative session, the story becomes a tale...

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Florida | Read Time: 3 minutes

Florida Beer Bill Provides Comprehensive Rules for Taprooms, Brewpubs, Tastings, & Growlers – FL HB 7075

In House Bill 7075, the Florida House of Representative’s Business & Professional Regulation Subcommittee introduced a set of rules intended to clarify how Florida breweries get beer in their hands of consumers. The bill answers persistent questions about taprooms, brewpubs, beer tastings, and growlers. Two Kinds of Taprooms Permitted House Bill 7075 divides brewery taprooms into two categories: unlicensed taprooms...

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Distilleries | Read Time: 3 minutes

Brewers’ Law 101: Florida Craft Distilling Licenses

Manufacturers of distilled spirits in Florida are regulated by the State of Florida and the federal government. This post discusses the state-level licensing of distilleries in Florida. The Basics of Florida Distilling Laws Do you need a craft distillery license to distill alcohol? Yes. The Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco (ABT) is authorized to issue separate licenses...

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Florida | Read Time: 2 minutes

Beer Bills Pending for 2014 Florida Legislative Session

The 2014 session of the Florida Legislature is two months from starting, but already two pairs of craft beer bills put growlers and beer tastings on tap. Bills Authorizing Growlers & Tastings SB 406 and HB 283, identical bills in the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representative, would change the craft beer laws in two ways:

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