The 2021 Session of the Florida Legislature will include consideration of a number of bills affecting breweries, wineries, distilleries, retailers and consumers. The 2021 regular session of the Florida Legislature kicks off Tuesday, March 2, 2021. This 2-month session will see the consideration of a number of bills (though not as many as in prior years) that could affect...
Continue ReadingFlorida restaurants that want to sell beer, wine and liquor–whether at a restaurant bar or to seated customers–must have a 4COP-SFS (formerly known as 4COP-SRX) license issued by the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (ABT) pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 561.20(2)(a)4. To get a 4COP-SFS license, a Florida restaurant must meet the following three requirements: Maintain at...
Continue ReadingWho can delivery beer, wine, and distilled spirits directly to the homes of Florida customers? See the following summary chart and the explanations below. Florida Breweries Cannot Deliver Alcohol to Customers’ Homes While certain breweries are allowed by Florida law to sell alcoholic beverages to customers, breweries are specifically prohibited from delivering alcohol away from their licensed taproom or...
Continue ReadingIn most cases, a craft brewery in Florida consists of a single structure divided into two parts. One part is the brewery, which has the required federal and state licenses to make beer. The other part is the taproom, which has a state license to sell beer for consumption on premises (and might also be licensed as a restaurant)....
Continue ReadingLate Payment to Distributors Can Land a Vendor on the “No Sale” List Florida alcoholic beverage vendors can end up on the Delinquent Account List–also called the “No Sale” List–if they fail to timely pay a distributor’s invoice. When a vendor purchases alcoholic beverages from a distributor, the vendor’s payment must be delivered no later than the 10th day...
Continue ReadingOne of the greatest challenges to opening or expanding an alcoholic manufacturing plant–whether brewery, winery, or distillery–is complying with local zoning ordinances. While many Florida communities have enacted specific craft beverage ordinances, most have not. As a result, getting that all-important zoning approval for a new or amended alcohol manufacturing or retail license can pose a time and cost...
Continue ReadingE-commerce allows entrepreneurs to build direct-to-consumer (DtC) retail businesses and manage them from anywhere. Whether selling snow skis or water skis (or both), geography is no obstacle for a good retail website and strong brands. When it comes to the heavily regulated alcoholic beverage industry, however, it’s not so simple (see How to Build a Direct-to-Consumer Florida Beverage Company)....
Continue ReadingThe next reception you attend might be catered by your favorite bar. Alcohol Catering: Bringing the Bar to You Florida’s Alcoholic Beverage Law authorizes alcohol catering by two kinds of licenseholders. An alcohol beverage catering license (13CT) is available to licensed food caterers, and allows them to sell and serve alcoholic beverages at events along with food catering (see...
Continue ReadingGames are fun and easy ways for bars and taprooms to keep customers entertained and keep them ordering. But in Florida, handling a game in the wrong way could result in civil fines or criminal charges. Don’t Call It Bingo In Florida, “bingo” has a specific statutory meaning. “Bingo” involves participants paying a sum of money for the use...
Continue ReadingDtC Sales of Alcohol are Promising but Hard to Manage Popularity of the Direct-to-Consumer (DtC) sales model is at an all-time high, in the alcoholic beverage industry and many others. The DtC model allows manufacturers and brand owners to sell (and often deliver) directly to consumers, bypassing traditional distribution and retail sales channels. Particularly in light of the COVID-19...
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