A.G. Gancarski
Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed 33 bills into law Friday, including Northeast Florida State Rep. Cyndi Stevenson’s bill (HB 141) to remove some restrictions from craft distilleries.
Among the highlights of the legislation: increasing production caps from 75,000 to 250,000 gallons; allowing for off-site distribution points; and relaxing limits on how many bottles a consumer could buy in a given year.
Stevenson, a customer and a fan of the St. Augustine Distillery (which has hosted election results parties for her in the past), got some of what she wanted in this legislation.
But not everything, alas.
“I had hoped to get the ability for distilleries to have unlimited bottle sales to the end consumer. That would have reduced overhead costs for keeping track of whom purchased what and when,” Stevenson said.
Indeed, there was resistance.
“We overcame it with persistence and reaching the compromise of six bottles. I know there was support in the industry and in the House and the Senate for a more robust bill, but going for more placed the entire bill at risk. The bill went back into play late in the session when we were running out of time,” Stevenson added.
The bill saw its late-April floor vote “temporarily postponed” ahead of the “Whiskey and Wheaties” vote.
While Gov. Scott vetoed the bill that would remove the liquor wall in big-box stores with standalone package operations, Scott clearly was more favorably disposed to the bill carried by Stevenson in the House and Greg Steube in the Senate.
And Stevenson appreciated Gov. Scott’s support.
“This is a significant win for the craft distilleries. They also got a reduction in their licensing fee [from $4,000 to $1,000 a year], that will help people looking to [form] start-ups as well,” Stevenson added.
“With 6 bottles per person and just two brands, an individual can purchase a case of alcohol a year. That’s a significant increase from two bottles,” Stevenson continued, alluding to previous limits established in 2013.
Stevenson doesn’t have plans to push for more – at least not next year. Not every committee chair is as enthusiastic about craft distillery issues as she is.
