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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Florida | Read Time: < 1 minute

Brewers’ Law 101: Florida DOR Registration & Alcohol Sales Tax

Prior 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...

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ABT | Read Time: 2 minutes

Brewers’ Law 101: ABT Florida Retail License

The retail sale of alcoholic beverages (generally, any beverage with greater than 0.5% alcohol by volume) is regulated by the state government. Within the government of the State of Florida, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT). The ABT is the agency responsible for licensing the alcoholic beverage industry, for collection and...

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ABT | Read Time: 2 minutes

Brewers’ Law 101: Florida ABT Manufacturing License

The manufacture of alcoholic beverages (generally, any beverage with greater than 0.5% alcohol by volume) is regulated by the federal government and the state government. Within the government of the State of Florida, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT). The ABT is the agency responsible for licensing the alcoholic beverage industry,...

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Licensing | Read Time: 2 minutes

Brewers’ Law 101: Federal TTB Manufacturing License

The manufacture of alcoholic beverages (generally, any beverage with greater than 0.5% alcohol by volume) is regulated by the federal government and the state government. Within the federal government, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is the agency charged with collecting federal taxes on alcohol and assuring compliance with alcohol permitting, labeling,...

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ABT | Read Time: 2 minutes

Clarification on ABT’s New Taproom Licensing Policy

As previously reported, the ABT has adopted a new policy requiring all taproom license applications to be reviewed in the Tallahassee district office. The new policy was announced in an email from Marie Fraher, the ABT’s Chief of Licensing, in an email to ABT licensing personnel. We obtained a copy of Ms. Fraher’s email by public records request, and...

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ABT | Read Time: < 1 minute

FISA Lawsuit Prompts ABT to Immediately Change Licensing Procedures

Shortly after before the Florida Independent Spirits Association (FISA) and the Florida Retail Federation (FRF) filed lawsuits accusing the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (ABT) of improperly licensing Florida brewery taprooms (discussed in Q&A for Breweries: The FISA Lawsuit), the ABT quietly changed its procedure for how brewery applications are to be handled.

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ABT | Read Time: 4 minutes

What to Expect When You’re Expanding

As Florida-made craft beer, spirits, and wine continue to grow in popularity, Florida beverage manufacturers may find it hard to keep up with demand. Every growing manufacturer must ask: Should we expand? Deciding to expand involves answering a slew of questions, all while keeping existing production on track. This article reviews four primary questions a manufacturer must answer when...

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Florida | Read Time: 3 minutes

Florida Beer Bill Provides Comprehensive Rules for Taprooms, Brewpubs, Tastings, & Growlers – FL HB 7075

In 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...

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Distribution | Read Time: 3 minutes

Brewers’ Law 101: Florida Winery Licenses

Manufacturers and bottlers of wine in Florida are regulated by the State of Florida and the federal government. This post discusses the state-level licensing of wineries in Florida. Are you interested in opening a brewery instead? What license is required to make wine in Florida? The Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) is authorized to issue two...

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