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...
Continue ReadingPrior to selling alcoholic beverages in Florida (which is subject to sales tax) or employing employees in Florida (which is subject to unemployment tax), every beverage company must register with the DOR, or Florida’s Department of Revenue. Form DR-1 Registering with the DOR involves filing the Florida Business Tax Application (DR-1). Form DR-1 is filed online using the DOR’s...
Continue ReadingMore and more property owners want to include breweries in their commercial spaces. As one example, here’s a listing for a commercial development in Eustis looking for a brewery tenant. Property owners recognize that brewery/taprooms bring in people.
Continue ReadingLabels on alcoholic beverage containers must comply with both U.S. and Florida laws and regulations. The reason these laws exist is to ensure container labels accurately represent the beverage inside. Beverage manufacturers must include specific information on the product labels. Florida manufacturers must also comply with the Florida Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco’s (ABT) label registration process and, in some...
Continue ReadingI am personally inviting you to Florida Craft’s Kickoff Event, Wednesday, October 15, from 5 pm to 8 pm at Redlight Redlight in Orlando. As many of you know, the Brewers’ Law team has for the last year been deeply focused on helping Florida beverage manufacturers—brewers, winemakers, and distillers—with the legal and regulatory steps for launching and operating their...
Continue ReadingIn her August 1, 2014 column, Orlando Sentinel columnist Beth Kassab celebrates Central Florida’s growing number of breweries and the support they’re getting from local government officials. At the same time, Ms. Kassab takes aim at Florida’s state-level politicians, most of whom haven’t given much help or attention to Florida breweries.
Continue ReadingChoosing the location for your new Florida brewery, winery, or distillery is a big moment in the life of your beverage business. Before making a final decision, answer these five questions about the location.
Continue ReadingBrewpubs are breweries too, right? We think so. Even though the Floria ABT separates its reporting on the retail sales by Florida production breweries (CMB license) and Florida brewpubs (CMBP license), we don’t have to. For the first time, Florida breweries and brewpubs are all together in The Florida Breweries Report.
Continue ReadingNothing lasts forever, and that is particularly true in the fickle alcoholic beverage industry. While Florida has seen tremendous growth in the number of craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries in the last 10 years, not all of them remain in business. The decisions that business owners make about when and how to close can have lasting effects for everyone...
Continue ReadingThere were no new brewpubs who joined the rank of active Florida brewpubs in March 2014. McGuire’s Irish Pub and Brewzzi again top the monthly sales rankings, but newcomer Tomoka Brewery and Fermentation Lounge had big months. Sailfish Brewing Company made the jump to the production brewery roles. It’s all on The Brewpub Report. Notes about The Florida Brewpubs Report...
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