Beverage industry bills pending in the Florida Legislature–specifically the beer bills–saw exciting action during the week of March 24. House and Senate committees heard impassioned testimony from Florida brewers. Three beer bills were unanimously passed out of committee, but in each case the passed bill differed from the original version, the result of late-filed amendments. It’s getting hard to...
Continue ReadingThe Florida Legislature is considering a pair of bills aimed at Florida’s wine and spirits importers. House Bill 1201 and Senate Bill 1552 are mirror images of one another. If passed, the bills would make technical corrections surrounding the “American source of supply” designation and would prohibit alteration of imported bottles of wine or spirits.
Continue ReadingAs of March 22, 2014, a total of 11 beverage industry bills are up for consideration in the Florida Legislature. All but a handful of those bills are focused on dramatically reshaping the operation of Florida’s breweries. To help beverage industry players and enthusiasts track the activity in Tallahassee, we bring you our weekly legislative update. Committee Approves New...
Continue ReadingIn 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...
Continue ReadingOn the eve of the 2014 Florida Legislative session, Representative Ray Rodriguez introduced House Bill 1329, which proposes big changes for the operation of Florida breweries. The stated purpose of HB 1329 is to authorize a “very limited exception to the three-tier system” by allowing breweries to sell their beer in growlers. While the bill does authorize growlers (in two...
Continue ReadingManufacturers and bottlers of wine in Florida are regulated by the State of Florida and the federal government. This post discusses the state-level licensing of wineries in Florida. Are you interested in opening a brewery instead? What license is required to make wine in Florida? The Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) is authorized to issue two...
Continue ReadingManufacturers 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...
Continue ReadingIt’s budgeting-season again for many business owners. As you’re putting together the budget for your brewery, don’t neglect to include legal expenses. A legal budget gives yourself advanced permission to call us for the legal needs of your brewery. Your brewery’s legal budget should have two parts:
Continue ReadingA pair of bills moving through the Florida Legislature (summarized here) will finally change the antiquated law that limits the container size for beer sold in the state. We can hopefully look forward to taking home a 64 oz growler from our favorite Florida breweries (or ABC Fine Wines & Spirits). Not if that growler is full of cider.
Continue ReadingThe 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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