Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2018

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State regulators are appealing an administrative law judge’s ruling that could allow retailers to sell hard liquor in their main stores, instead of in separate stores as they do now. The Department of Business Professional Regulation (DBPR), which oversees booze sales through its Division of Alcoholic Beverages And Tobacco (ABT), on Friday filed a notice of appeal to […]

Jim RosicaDecember 1, 2018

An administrative law judge has sent a wrecking ball through the wall that separates whiskey from Wheaties in Florida. Judge John D.C. Newton II‘s final order, filed Friday, opens the possibility for big-box retailers to sell hard liquor in their main stores, instead of in separate stores as they do now. The order also confirmed that Walmart “seeks to obtain, […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 25, 2018

Target and Walmart are heading to court to get an administrative law judge to give them what Gov. Rick Scott wouldn’t: The ability to sell whiskey and Wheaties in the same store. The big-box retailers late Monday filed an administrative challenge against the state’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages And Tobacco (ABT). At issue: The state’s obscure, 24-year-old “Restaurant Rule,” which restricts […]

Jim RosicaJuly 24, 2018

Give Costco’s lawyers some credit: They may have a found a way to finally be able to sell tequila and turkey burgers in the same store. The answer may involve its food courts — turkey provolone sandwich, anyone? — and repealing the state’s obscure, 24-year-old “Restaurant Rule.” And already, Costco’s critics are calling it an […]

Jim RosicaMay 25, 2017

Saying it could hurt job creation, Gov. Rick Scott vetoed a contentious bill that would have removed the ‘wall of separation’ between hard liquor and other goods. Scott filed his veto letter of the measure (SB 106) on Wednesday night, his deadline to act on the bill. It’s the first veto of a bill from the 2017 […]

Jim RosicaMay 21, 2017

Costco now is joining Wal-Mart, Target and others in one last push to get Gov. Rick Scott to sign a bill to remove the ‘wall of separation’ between hard liquor and other goods. Their Floridians For Fair Business Practices coalition on Friday released a tranche of letters sent to Scott encouraging him to OK the legislation (SB […]

Peter SchorschMarch 7, 2017

The House version of the “whiskey and Wheaties” bill stumbled and then face planted in its second committee hearing Tuesday afternoon. The Walmart-backed HB 81, sponsored by Hialeah Republican Rep. Bryan Avila, would allow grocery stores and other retailers to sell liquor, rather than keeping up the so-called “liquor wall.” The issue is a top priority for […]

Tag: liquor wall

State appealing ‘liquor wall’ decision

Judge hands preliminary win to big-box retailers in ‘whiskey and Wheaties’ fight

Target, Walmart file rule challenge for ‘whiskey and Wheaties’

It’s back: Costco’s weapon to win ‘whiskey and Wheaties’ war

The hangover: Rick Scott vetoes ‘whiskey & Wheaties’ bill

Big-box chains, others make one last push for ‘whiskey & Wheaties’

Hmmm… House’s whiskey & Wheaties bill stumbles in second committee