Distribution Archives - Brewers' Law

Breweries Oct 10, 2024 | Read Time: 4 minutes

Assignments of Alcohol Distribution Agreements in Florida

By Trevor Brewer

In Florida, alcohol distributors occasionally seek to transfer their distribution agreements to new distributors. The roles of beer, wine, or distilled spirits suppliers vary greatly in these assignments. While, beer distribution agreements are tightly regulated by the Florida Beer Franchise Law. assignments of wine or distilled spirits distribution agreements are governed only by general contract laws and principles. Florida...

Beverage Legislation Mar 10, 2024 | Read Time: 2 minutes

FLORIDA BEVERAGE LEGISLATION: 2024 POST-SESSION REVIEW OF BEVERAGE BILLS

By Trevor Brewer

FLORIDA LEGISLATURE PASSED TWO BILLS AFFECTING THE BEVERAGE LAWS The 2024 session of the Florida Legislature featured 8 bills proposing to change Florida’s alcoholic beverage laws. The session ended March, 8, 2024. Two of pairs of bills passed both houses of the Florida Legislature and are now on their way for signature by the governor. The other bills did...

Distribution Feb 10, 2024 | Read Time: 2 minutes

Rules for Alcohol Sample Tastings in Florida

By Madison Long

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 event 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...

ABT Jan 6, 2024 | Read Time: 2 minutes

Understanding Florida’s Alcoholic Beverage Product Sample Rules

By Trevor Brewer

Alcoholic beverage suppliers in Florida–whether manufacturers, importers, or broker-sales agents–are limited in the ways that they can get their products into the market. Generally, suppliers must sell their products to licensed distributors, and distributors must sell their products to licensed retail vendors. So how do suppliers introduce new alcoholic beverage products to Florida retail vendors? One way is to...

ABT Nov 5, 2023 | Read Time: 3 minutes

Beer Test Marketing Campaigns

By Madison Long

The world of beer is a dynamic and ever-changing one. Breweries and beer importers are always looking for new ways to introduce their products to the Florida market. However, the beer industry has its challenges, especially when it comes to distribution. In this blog post, we’ll explore the Florida Beer Franchise Law, specifically focusing on the concept of test...

Breweries Sep 10, 2023 | Read Time: < 1 minute

Alcoholic Beverage Industry Participates and their Roles

By Trevor Brewer

There are a number of different ways for businesses to participate in the alcoholic beverage industry. To get the right federal and state alcoholic beverage licenses and permits, you first have to identify what role or roles your business will play. Alcoholic Beverage Industry Participation Profiles provides a table of common activities in the alcoholic beverage industry and identifies...

Beverage Legislation Sep 10, 2023 | Read Time: 3 minutes

The Role of Local Government in Alcohol Regulation

By Madison Long

When it comes to alcoholic beverage regulation, most of the spotlight falls on federal and state laws. These regulations are essential in ensuring the safe and responsible production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages. However, there’s a significant mistake that often goes unnoticed – the lack of attention given to local government ordinances and rules. In this post, we’ll...

ABT Jul 14, 2023 | Read Time: 2 minutes

Florida Guidelines for Third-Party Marketing of Alcoholic Beverages

By Madison Long

In Florida, the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) is concerned about violations of the Tied House Evil Law, which aims to prevent unfair practices in the alcoholic beverage industry. This law prohibits manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers from controlling local markets through payments to alcohol retailers and other unfair marketing techniques. The ABT has established guidelines for third-party...

ABT Nov 13, 2022 | Read Time: 4 minutes

What Brewdog Brewing Tells Us About the Florida ABT’s Role

By Trevor Brewer

Brewdog Brewing Asked About a Flaw in the Florida Beer Franchise Law In 2020, Brewdog Brewing Company LLC (“Brewdog”) asked the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) what the word “successor” means as used in the Florida Beer Franchise Law, Florida Statutes Section 563.022(16). At stake was whether would be bound to the distribution agreements that had...

ABT Jul 4, 2022 | Read Time: 2 minutes

Exclusive Sales Territories Required for Beer Distribution in Florida

By Trevor Brewer

The Florida Beverage Law and related regulations contain no specific requirements concerning restrictive territories or any other contractual terms concerning wine and distilled spirit products. For beer and malt beverage products, however, the Florida Beverage Law, requires exclusive sales territories for beer and malt beverage products (collectively referred to here as “beer”). Since 1988, beer may be sold by...