As 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 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 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:
Continue ReadingWe are always looking for new ways to help brewers make and sell craft beer in Florida. Our latest offering is the Florida Beer Distribution Guide.
Continue ReadingThat’s the claim made by some distributors, as reported in Craft Business Daily. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Alan Shaw (@AlanCShaw) has been at the center of the conversation with his web article and the comments to it. Alan writes: I understand why retailers and distributors are complaining about tasting rooms selling their packaged beer right to consumers, because the brewery...
Continue ReadingBeginning April 30, 2014, the Florida manufacturers will be exempt from Florida’s sales and use tax on the purchase of industrial machinery and equipment used in Florida. To be eligible for the exemption, a manufacturer’s primary activity where the equipment will be located must fall within North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes 31, 32, and 33. NAICS codes 31,...
Continue ReadingBrewers and breweries in Florida are regulated on both the state and federal levels. In this post, we will discuss the regulation at the state level. Are you interested in opening a winery instead? Florida Brewery Licenses To brew, you need a Florida CMB or CMPB License Brewers in Florida who want to make beer and sell it must...
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