Opening a 6-liter Methusaleh bottle of Veuve Clicquout Brut Champagne at your next family or friends gathering in Florida would certainly make a statement! It’s not just about the luxury of the champagne, but also the symbolism of breaking free from restrictive laws and embracing a spirit of celebration and freedom. Since the House and Senate approved Rep. Chip...
Continue ReadingFLORIDA LEGISLATURE PASSED TWO BILLS AFFECTING THE BEVERAGE LAWS The 2024 session of the Florida Legislature featured 8 bills proposing to change Florida’s alcoholic beverage laws. The session ended March, 8, 2024. Two of pairs of bills passed both houses of the Florida Legislature and are now on their way for signature by the governor. The other bills did...
Continue ReadingFlorida’s craft distillery scene has seen a remarkable surge since the enactment of the Craft Distillery Law in 2021. The numbers tell the story: from 84 licensed distilleries in September 2021, the count has now soared to 118 by September 2023. Many of these new licenses belong to manufacturers already operating as breweries or wineries, sharing manufacturing spaces to...
Continue ReadingWinding up a business, especially in the world of alcohol manufacturing, involves a detailed process divided into three main parts: regulatory requirements, handling creditors’ claims, and managing assets. Here’s a breakdown of what each of these involves: Regulatory Requirements: For alcohol manufacturers, meeting regulatory demands is a crucial step in winding up operations. This primarily revolves around dealing with...
Continue ReadingThe United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit recently ruled that the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) waited too long–by 16 years–to try to change a district court ruling that allows out-of-state wine retailers to sell and deliver wine directly to Florida consumers. See Bainbridge vs Director of the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages...
Continue ReadingThere are a number of different ways for businesses to participate in the alcoholic beverage industry. To get the right federal and state alcoholic beverage licenses and permits, you first have to identify what role or roles your business will play. Alcoholic Beverage Industry Participation Profiles provides a table of common activities in the alcoholic beverage industry and identifies...
Continue ReadingWhen it comes to alcoholic beverage regulation, most of the spotlight falls on federal and state laws. These regulations are essential in ensuring the safe and responsible production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages. However, there’s a significant mistake that often goes unnoticed – the lack of attention given to local government ordinances and rules. In this post, we’ll...
Continue ReadingIf you’re thinking about starting a brewery, brewpub, winery, or distillery, it’s important to understand that these businesses require special licensing for both alcohol and food. While alcohol has its unique regulations, it is still considered a food product by the primary food regulatory agencies. In this blog post, we will explore the requirements for obtaining food licenses and...
Continue ReadingWhen you finally receive the necessary licenses to operate your beverage business in Florida from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT), it’s incredibly exciting and relieving. However, it’s important to remember that your relationship with these organizations is ongoing, and there may be circumstances in which...
Continue ReadingIn bars, taprooms, and tasting rooms, determining who can participate in a tip pool raises two important questions. These questions revolve around whether managers should share in the tip pool and how employees with dual job roles should be treated when it comes to tips. This article will delve into these questions and propose potential solutions to ensure fair...
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