Vetoed by Governor Rick Scott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that allows grocery stores to sell liquor in the same space as other products.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the sale of hard liquor next to other products inside certain grocery stores, drugstores, specialty gift shops and gas stations (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes employment of minors at certain businesses that sell alcoholic beverages as long as the following criteria are met (Sec. 1):

• No more than 30% of the business’s monthly gross revenue comes from the sales of alcoholic beverages;

• The minors are supervised by an individual at least 18 years old who verifies that any purchaser of an alcoholic beverage is at least 21 years old; and

• The business does not involve nudity or other adult forms of entertainment.

• Specifies that failure to comply with the restriction on monthly revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages is unlawful if a minor is employed during a month that the restriction is exceeded (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits issuing a new beverage license to any business located within 1,000 feet of a public or private elementary school, middle school, or secondary school (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the renewal of a beverage license issued on or before June 30, 2017 for liquor vendors located within 1,000 feet of a school if the vendor’s business is devoted exclusively to the sale of alcoholic beverages (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes liquor vendors to sell certain non-alcoholic beverages such as bitters, grenadine, and fruit juices produced in Florida, as well as certain glassware, party supplies and tobacco (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits issuing a beverage license to gas stations whose premises consist of less than 10,000 square feet of retail space for the general public (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the effective date for most of the provisions of this bill is July 1, 2017 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text