Jim Rosica
A bill filed Friday in the Florida Legislature would remove limits on how many bottles Florida’s craft distilleries can sell directly to consumers.
The legislation (HB 4023) is sponsored by state Rep. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican who last year unsuccessfully tried to remove the requirement that retailers sell hard liquor in separate stores.
The measure continues to chip at restrictions placed on craft distillers, those putting out 75,000 or fewer gallons of booze per year.
It would, however, still prohibit distillers from selling any bottles larger than 1.75 liters.
Until 2013, distillers couldn’t sell any of their product to customers. Florida uses the “three-tier system” set in place after Prohibition that divides alcoholic-beverage manufacturers, distributors and retailers.
That year, lawmakers approved a change to state law allowing two bottles to be sold to an individual customer yearly.
This past session, the law was changed again to two bottles annually per customer of each brand of liquor that a distiller makes. If a craft distiller produces only one type of liquor, however, four can be sold.
Distributors and liquor stores have opposed measure to loosen restrictions, saying it would cut into their business.
But distillery owners applauded the new laws. They have complained about being treated differently than craft breweries and wineries, which can sell directly to customers without volume limits.
Philip McDaniel, CEO and co-founder of St. Augustine Distillery Co., and founding president of the Florida Craft Distillers Guild, on Friday said he couldn’t comment on the bill until he can “discuss its implications … with the other members of the guild.”
