The 2026 Session of the Florida Legislature includes consideration of a few bills with affecting breweries, wineries, distilleries, retailers and consumers. The 2026 regular session of the Florida Legislature kicked off Tuesday, January 13, 2026. This 2-month session will see the consideration of a number of bills that could affect the Florida beverage industry as soon as July. For...
Continue ReadingThe Data: The Florida Breweries Report reflects data published by the Florida ABT, which is available online here, as of the date of publication. The ABT monthly publishes the taxpaid sales for each brewery and distributor. Unfortunately, the ABT does not publish breweries’ sales to distributors. This means that the Florida Breweries Report reflects only breweries’ taxpaid sales, which are generally made...
Continue ReadingThe federal regulations for setting up a brewery, winery, or distillery (referred to as a “distilled spirits plant” or DSP) outline strict requirements for the designated area approved for production operations, known as the “bonded premises.” The Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) is responsible for enforcing these regulations. Rules Governing the Bonded Premises Each commodity...
Continue ReadingThe 2025 Session of the Florida Legislature includes consideration of a few bills with affecting breweries, wineries, distilleries, retailers and consumers. The 2025 regular session of the Florida Legislature kicked off Tuesday, March 4, 2025. This 2-month session will see the consideration of a number of bills that could affect the Florida beverage industry as soon as July. For...
Continue ReadingIn 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...
Continue ReadingThe 2024 Session of the Florida Legislature will include consideration of a number of bills affecting breweries, wineries, distilleries, retailers and consumers. The 2024 regular session of the Florida Legislature kicks off Tuesday, January 9, 2024. This 2-month session will see the consideration of a number of bills that could affect the Florida beverage industry as soon as July....
Continue ReadingFlorida’s craft distillery scene has seen a remarkable surge since the enactment of the Craft Distillery Law in 2021. The numbers tell the story: from 84 licensed distilleries in September 2021, the count has now soared to 118 by September 2023. Many of these new licenses belong to manufacturers already operating as breweries or wineries, sharing manufacturing spaces to...
Continue ReadingWinding up a business, especially in the world of alcohol manufacturing, involves a detailed process divided into three main parts: regulatory requirements, handling creditors’ claims, and managing assets. Here’s a breakdown of what each of these involves: Regulatory Requirements: For alcohol manufacturers, meeting regulatory demands is a crucial step in winding up operations. This primarily revolves around dealing with...
Continue ReadingThere 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...
Continue ReadingWhen 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...
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