Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee, Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Summary
A meeting packet for the Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee of the Florida House of Representatives Commerce Committee, for Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 1:00pm – 3:00pm in Webster Hall (212 Knott), with Mike Giallombardo as Chair. The agenda lists a panel discussion titled “Is the three-tier system working” on the manufacture, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages in Florida. The packet includes a February 12th, 2025 presentation by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) of the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation. The presentation covers the three tiers of Florida’s licensing system, manufacturers, distributors and retailers, and exceptions for wineries, breweries with brewpubs and taprooms, and craft distilleries.
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“Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee, Wednesday, February 12, 2025.”
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Industries & Professional Activities
Subcommittee
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Webster Hall (212 Knott)
Daniel Perez Mike Giallombardo
Speaker Chair
The Florida House of Representatives
Commerce Committee
Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
Daniel Perez Mike Giallombardo
Speaker Chair
Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Webster Hall (212 Knott)
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Welcome and Opening Remarks
IV. Is the three-tier system working: Panel Discussion on the manufacture, distribution and
sale of alcoholic beverages in Florida
V. Closing Remarks
VI. Adjournment
214 House Office Building, 402 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Fl 32399-1300
(850) 717-4870
Presentation
Florida’s Three-Tier System
Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee
Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT)
February 12th, 2025
dbpr GOVERNOR
Ron Desantis
SECRETARY
Melanie s. Griffin
Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT)
Bureau of Bureau of Bureau of
Licensing Auditing Enforcement
Processes license applications Collects and audits the excise 2nd oldest law enforcement
and renewals. tax due to the state. agency in Florida celebrating
its 92nd year of service in
Verifies applicants' qualifications Conducts audits to ensure 2025.
for licensure under the compliance with special
Beverage Law and chapters licensing requirements. Conducts routine compliance
210 and 569, Florida Statutes. inspections, minimum age of
purchase surveys, and
administrative investigations.
2
Alcoholic Beverage Regulation in Florida
The 21st Amendment granted each state the right to establish laws governing the manufacture,
distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages within its borders following the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.
Control Non-Control
A minority of states control the sale of distilled In most states, including Florida, private
spirits (and in some cases, wine, and beer) businesses apply for licenses to manufacture,
through government agencies at the distribute, and sell alcoholic beverages to
distribution level. consumers. Licensees must comply with state
laws regulating these transactions to maintain
their licensure.
3
Alcoholic Beverage Regulation in Florida - Definitions
Florida Beverage Law: Florida’s Beverage Law is contained in Chapters 561-
565 and 567-568, Florida Statutes.
Alcoholic Beverage: Section 561.01(4)(a), Florida Statutes, provides that an
“alcoholic beverage” is a distilled spirit “and all beverages containing one-half of
1 percent or more alcohol by volume.”
Percentage of Alcohol by Volume: Section 561.01(4)(b), Florida Statutes,
explains that the percentage of alcohol by volume is “determined by measuring
the volume of the standard ethyl alcohol in the beverage and comparing it with
the volume of the remainder of the ingredients as though said remainder
ingredients were distilled water.”
Intoxicating Beverage/Liquor: Section 561.01(5), Florida Statutes, restricts
alcoholic beverages and liquors to those “containing more than 4.007 percent
of alcohol by volume.”
4
The Three-Tier Licensing System
-
Florida’s regulations generally restrict licensees to participation in one tier of its three-tier licensing
system, thereby intending to prevent the control that manufacturers and distributors historically exerted
on independent vendors or retailers. The three tiers of Florida’s licensing system include:
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Manufacturers Distributors Retailers
5
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
Tier One:
Manufacturers
Manufacturers, sometimes also referred to as
“producers,” include:
• Breweries
• Wineries
• Distilleries
Generally, manufacturers must both:
• Produce, rectify, or blend alcoholic
products; and
• Sell those products to either:
o Other manufacturers; or
o Licensed distributors
6
Tier Two:
Distributors
-
Distributors, sometimes also referred to as T
“wholesalers,” generally:
i r I
I
• Purchase alcohol products from manufacturers;
and
• Sell those products to:
o Licensed retailers in Florida; or
o Other distributors, where allowed.
77
Tier Three:
Retailers
Retailers, more frequently referred to as “vendors,”
generally sell alcoholic beverages at “retail only”
locations.
Retailers are further classified into two types:
• On-Premises Retailers, which sell beer, wine, or
spirits, or some combination thereof, for patrons
to consume on their licensed premises. Examples
include bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
• Off-Premises Retailers, which sell beer, wine, or
spirits, or some combination thereof, in sealed
containers for patrons to consume off-premises
only. Examples include liquor stores and grocery
stores.
8
Exceptions to the Three-Tier System
Wineries Breweries with Brewpubs Craft Distilleries
561.221(1), F.S. Taprooms 561.221(3), F.S. 565.03(2)(b), F.S.
A Florida winery can be 561.221(2), F.S. A Florida brewpub may A craft distillery may sell
licensed as a A Florida brewery annually brew up to its branded products
manufacturer and currently licensed as a 10,000 kegs (15.5 directly to consumers by
distributor, and hold up to distributor can act as a gallons/keg) of beer for the drink on premises or
three retailer licenses if manufacturer and retailer consumption exclusively by the package in a
the retailer’s licensed of their own product so at the brewpub. factory-sealed container
premises are situated on long as the brewery's for consumption off the
property contiguous to the property is located on a premises.
manufacturing premises. single complex.
9
Licensing Fees
TIER ANNUAL FEE NUMBER OF
RANGE LICENSEES
Beverage $500 - 4,000 638
Manufacturer
Beverage Distributor $1,000 - 4,000 1,177
Beverage Vendor $25 - 2,500 53,792
10
Point of Contact
Derek Miller
Director of Legislative Affairs
Derek.Miller@myfloridalicense.com
PH: 850.717.1580
11
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