Breweries | Read Time: 3 minutes

Making & Selling Cocktail Bitters in Florida

Bitters are often called the spices of the cocktail world. Although alcohol is a primary ingredient in most cocktail bitters, they are treated differently than other alcoholic products under federal law and the laws of Florida.

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Beverage Legislation | Read Time: 3 minutes

Florida Beverage Legislation: 2019 Post-Session Review of Beverage Bills

Zero out of 9. All 2019 Florida beverage bills fell flat. Nine beverage-focused  bills were introduced at the start of the 2019 Florida legislative session. All nine died in committee (or didn’t even get that far). Despite the possibility of some sweeping changes, especially for Florida breweries and distilleries, the Florida Beverage Laws will remain unchanged this year. For...

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Breweries | Read Time: 3 minutes

Marijuana Beer: Still Not Legal in Florida

For several months, we’ve been hearing about the introduction of marijuana-infused beer. Most of these products feature non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD), but beer brewed with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)–the compound that gives marijuana its best-known quality–will soon reach the market. So, is marijuana-infused beer legal in Florida? In June 2018, the answer is no. Update: As of July 1, 2019, the answer...

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ABT | Read Time: 6 minutes

The Compliant Florida Beer Festival

Craft beer festivals are tremendously popular in Florida. The multiplication of beer festivals throughout the state has caused the state’s principal regulator of alcoholic beverages–the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (the ABT)–to take a closer look at how beer festivals are operated. Like all activities involving alcohol beverages, Florida beer festivals are subject to a confusing web...

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Florida | Read Time: < 1 minute

Brewers’ Law 101: Local Business Tax

Each municipality (city and county) imposes an annual tax on the opportunity to conduct business within the municipality’s limits. Local business taxes (formerly known as occupational licenses) vary depending on the nature of business. A receipt is required for each place of business and for each separate classification at the same location.

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Florida | Read Time: < 1 minute

Brewers’ Law 101: Florida Health Department Approval

Health approval is required on all applications for the 2COP license and other licenses permitting consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises. Businesses that serve food or are located on premises licensed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants, must obtain approval from that division. Businesses that do not serve food must contact...

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