FLORIDA 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 not get passed out of committee.
2024 FLORIDA BEVERAGE BILLS - POST-SESSION
NUMBER
TITLE
SUMMARY
FILED BY
LAST ACTION
HB 1107
Beverage Law
Provides & revises provisions related to the Beverage Law, including definitions, requirements for certain manufacturers of malt beverages, craft breweries, & contract brewing & alternating proprietorship brewing.
Yeager
Last Action: 1/9/2024 H 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
CS/HB 583
Individual Wine Containers
Revises exception to maximum allowable capacity for individual container of wine sold in this state.
LaMarca
Last Action: 3/5/2024 House - Ordered enrolled
HB 603
Distilled Spirits
Increases size of distilled spirits containers that may be sold or distributed; authorizes entities to conduct tastings & sales at specified locations; provides requirements related to issuance of permits; provides broker or sales agent may be used in place of distillery representative at spirituous beverage tasting.
Duggan
Last Action: 1/9/2024 House - 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
CS/HB 709
In-store Servicing of Alcoholic Beverages
Revises applicability of provisions regulating in-store servicing of wine to include distilled spirits with specified percentage of alcohol.
Rizo
Last Action: 3/5/2024 House - Ordered enrolled
SB 1134
Individual Wine Containers
vising the limitation on the size of individual wine containers to glass containers only, etc.
Trumbull
Last Action: 3/5/2024 Senate - Laid on Table, refer to CS/HB 583 -SJ 702
SB 1348
Beverage Law
Authorizing manufacturers of malt beverages to transfer malt beverages to another manufacturer for brewing under certain conditions; deleting the definition of the term “keg”; revising a provision to limit the number of barrels, rather than kegs, of malt beverages certain vendors may brew annually; revising surety bond requirements for payment of taxes; providing requirements for contract brewing and alternating proprietorship brewing, etc.
DiCeglie
Last Action: 1/4/2024 S Filed
SB 384
Spirituous Beverages
Increasing the maximum allowable size of distilled spirits containers; authorizing certain distilleries and primary sources of American supply to conduct beverage tastings upon certain licensed premises under certain circumstances, etc.
Hooper
Last Action: 1/9/2024 Senate - Introduced
SB 574
In-store Servicing of Alcoholic Beverages
Revising applicability of provisions regulating in-store servicing of wine to include products with a specified percentage of alcohol; authorizing the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to adopt rules, etc.
Burgess
Last Action: 3/5/2024 Senate - Laid on Table, refer to CS/HB 709 -SJ 691
NUMBER
TITLE
SUMMARY
FILED BY
LAST ACTION
2024 CHANGES TO FLORIDA BEVERAGE LAWS
Assuming Governor DeSantis signs into law the two enrolled bills, the Florida alcoholic beverage laws will change in a couple of ways on July 1, 2024.
Distributors’ In-Store Servicing of Distilled Spirits Products. House Bill 709 makes small changes to Florida Statutes Section 561.424, regarding distributors’ in-store servicing of wine products, and creates new Florida Statutes Section 561.425, authorizing in-store servicing of distilled spirits products. The bill provides a comprehensive definition of “in-store-servicing.” This clarification aims to provide clarity and coherence in regulatory practices while ensuring consistency in the interpretation and enforcement of related provisions.
Large-Format Wine Bottles Authorized. House Bill 583 authorized the sale of large-format wine bottles–from 4.5 liter bottles to 15 liter bottles. These large wine bottles have interesting names, which are discussed in a separate articles. See Large-Format Wine Bottles Legal in Florida.
The Florida Legislature’s 2025 session is scheduled to start April 14, 2025.
Do you have any questions about how these proposed changes to Florida Beverage Laws could affect your beverage business? Contact us to schedule a consultation with a beverage attorney.
Because we’re attorneys: Disclaimer. Originally posted 03/10/2024.
