Craft distilleries bill advances in House

Craft Distillery Bill Advances in the House

Holly Raschein bill also lets service dogs into tastings.

By Jacob Ogles

A change in law letting distilleries bottle drinks in a wider variety of sizes has cleared its first 

hurdle in the Florida House. Rep. Holly Raschein, a Key West Republican, stressed the 

legislation aims to let more Florida-based distilleries take advantage of market needs. 

The bill (HB 1165) does this by repealing statutes related to wine and cider container 

size limitations and by specifying restaurant patrons may take home a partially consumed 

bottle of wine with the purchase of a meal. The legislation passed in the House Business 

and Professions Subcommittee, where it was one of multiple pieces of legislation aimed at 

lifting restrictions on alcohol businesses. Should the legislation become law, distillers could 

blend bottled spirits together. It would also increase the maximum production threshold for 

craft distilleries from 75,000 to 250,000 gallons and allow up to 75,000 gallons to be sold 

straight from a company’s own gift shop.

It also authorizes the issuance of up to three vendor’s licenses for the sale of  alcoholic beverages on a distillery’s premises. Moreover, it lets distilleries hold  tastings and tours anywhere liquor can legally be sold.

Rep. Wengay Newton, a St. Petersburg Democrat, questioned whether the 

legislation would end up letting distilleries go around existing rules on distribution. 

Raschein stressed that was not the intention of the bill.

Another important part of the bill allows dogs to move around distilleries, something

 that gained the attention of Subcommittee Chair Heather Fitzenhagen. The Fort

 Myers Republican wanted clarity on how that would impact food and beverage health protections.

Raschein noted the legislation would change the law that now forbids dogs from 

being on the premises for distilleries, there still would be restrictions on where 

canines could go. The bill would let service animals be accommodated but still won’t let 

animals on counters where food gets served or prepared and prohibits animals 

from having any contact with any items that come in contact with food. Dog 

waste must be cleaned up immediately, and areas must be kept sanitized in line 

with health regulations. Rep. Matt Willhite, a Palm Beach Democrat, supported the legislation but did 

ask that regulations involving craft alcohol industries be looked at more “holistically.”

To Purchase an alcohol License in Florida please visit www.LiquorLicenseFL.com

Taco Bell's spinoff "Taco Bell Cantina" serving beer and slushy cocktails start to open around Florida!

Taco Bell's spinoff "Taco Bell Cantina"  serving beer and slushy Cocktails starting to open around Florida!

Imagine That, Baja Blast Slushy Cocktails! Dubbed "Twisted Freezes"

Credit to:

Phillip Valys - South Florida Sun Sentinel

Taco Bell Cantina, an upscale version of the franchise that serves alcohol, has opened its first South Florida location at Fort Lauderdale Beach Place. 

Taco Bell Cantina, an alcohol-fueled spinoff of the fast-food giant, has opened its first South Florida location at Fort Lauderdale Beach Place.

The Tex-Mex chain, which soft-opened to the public on Oct. 21 at 17 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., is planning a grand-opening bash from 5 p.m. Nov. 1 until 11 p.m. Nov. 2 with free swag giveaways, live music, and food and drink samples.

An upscale version of the franchise but without a drive-thru, the industrial-chic Taco Bell Cantina is aimed at college kids and the millennial set. Which means customers can now wash down their steak chalupas and Cool Ranch Doritos Locos tacos with draft beer or “Twisted Freezes,” the restaurant’s phrase for frozen cocktails.

Taco Bell Cantina, has opened its first South Florida location at Fort Lauderdale Beach Place. (Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The cantina’s design features communal-style seating with bar stools, an open kitchen with wraparound bar, and a custom menu with sharable appetizers. Customers order from the counter or from touchscreen point-of-sale kiosks.

Twisted Freezes ($6) include margaritas, Baja Blast, Cantina Punch, ginger beer and lemonade, and each can be infused with choice of rum, vodka or tequila. Draft beer ($3-$4) includes Red Stripe, Bud Light, Blue Moon and Havana Lager.

The cantina is one of 43 locations across the country the brand began rolling out in 2015. Naturally, anything from the Taco Bell menu can be ordered, but the cantina also includes sharable nacho boxes ($6.99), including Chicken Enchilada Nacho, Steak and Cheddar Nacho and the Fiesta Taco Salad Nacho.

As with other Beach Place restaurants catering to intrepid midnight eaters, the cantina keeps long hours. The restaurant is open 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m.-1 a.m. Thursday, 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

If you are in need of a Florida Liquor License for your establishment Please contact Jason Long in Cape Coral jason@liqourlicensefl.com

SWFL Snowbird Season is here in full effect!

Snowbird Season here in Florida is in full effect!

Northerners start flocking to Florida typically from October-November thru April -May; is your business ready to profit to its full potential? Are you mixing some tasty new cocktails that these customers can’t wait to come back for? This time of year Restaurants become crowded and the bars become packed and we want to help keep them coming back year after year! Try some new ideas! Add that Cool Cajun Shrimp Bloody Mary to the Menu you’ve always wanted! Order those fresh jalapeños for the garnish—it will pay off in the long run! Travelers are always documenting their excursions and outings with social media so make sure you can impact everyone’s feeds! (that's lots of free marketing)

Call Liquor License FL today for your Full Liquor License Upgrade or to discuss financing on a Quota license or anything in between! We are here to make you more profitable and help you grow!

Uber is taking to long! Walmart now offering alcohol delivery service in Florida!

Walmart offering alcohol delivery service in Florida

Walmart store (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

You can now order your booze online from Walmart and get it without ever leaving your home!

In an effort to compete in the online grocery war games, Walmart has announced that some customers in Florida and California will be able to order booze from their grocery store website and have it delivered to their front door. The service will be made available in nearly 200 stores across both states.This comes as the company is now allowing customers to order alcoholic beverages online along with the rest of their groceries, and have them delivered to their car at curbside pickup.

The new service is being offered at more than 2,000 Walmart stores across the country. Customers can select a time to pick up their order and then park in the convenient reserved parking spaces. An associate will then bring your order out to your vehicle.

Customers are required to provide valid I.D. for alcohol purchases.

In Orlando, the new pickup service applies to customers who place their adult beverage orders at the following stores:

•    16313 New Independence Parkway, Winter Garden, FL 34787
•    825 Casa Verde Blvd, Lake Mary, FL 32746
•    17030 Us Highway 441, Mount Dora, FL 32757
•    2501 Citrus Blvd, Leesburg, FL 34748
•    11250 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32817
•    1239 State Road 436 Ste 101, Casselberry, FL 32707
•    1700 S Org Blsmtrail, Apopka, FL 32703
•    4400 13Th St, Saint Cloud, FL 34769
•    8801 Conroy Windermere Rd, Orlando, FL 32835
•    185 N Charles Richard Beall Boulevard, Debary, FL 32713
•    600 S Alafaya Trail, Orlando, FL 32828
•    5991 S Goldenrod Rd, Orlando, FL 32822
•    902 Lee Rd, Orlando, FL 32810
•    3101 W Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32808
•    4255 Alafaya Trail, Oviedo, FL 32765
•    5216 Red Bug Lake Road, Winter Springs, FL 32708
•    904 Cypress Pkwy, Kissimmee, FL 34759
•    2125 Nolte Road, St. Cloud, FL 34772
•    3950 N. Wichham Road, Melbourne, FL 32935
•    9047 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32825
•    5511 Deep Lake Rd, Oviedo, FL 32765
•    13801 Landstar Blvd., Orlando, FL 32824
•    1569 Saxon Boulevard, Deltona, FL 32725
•    820 Balmy Beach Drive, Apopka, FL 32703

Changes made to extended alcohol sales ordinance in Jacksonville Beach

Changes made to extended alcohol sales ordinance in Jacksonville Beach

According to the city, most of the Jacksonville Beach late-night establishments already have the permit, but changes made will impact new businesses or ones that change

*A previous version of this story suggested that all businesses would have to apply for a permit to serve alcohol after midnight. The changes only impact new businesses and business transfers, as most businesses already have the permit.

On Monday, the City of Jacksonville Beach voted in favor of making stricter permit guidelines for those applying for or transferring an 'Extended Hours of Operations Permit."

According to the city, most of the Jacksonville Beach late-night establishments already have the permit, but changes made will impact new businesses or ones that change ownership.

The ordinance comes after the city says there has been "several incidents of disorderly and violent encounters" at establishments which has led to an increased cost of law enforcement.

RELATED: Suspects allegedly involved in fatal Jax Beach shooting arrested in Hawaii

"In order to protect public health and safety of the residents of the City of Jacksonville Beach, the City finds it is in the best interest of the public health, safety and welfare to encourage responsible alcohol beverage establishments..," reads the ordinance.

If new businesses, or those operating under a restaurant license, are interested in 'sale and sell' of alcohol after 12 p.m., they must do so via an Extended Hours of Operations Permit.

New businesses or those that change ownership must apply for the permit, implement a security and emergency action plan, and pay an annual fee to be able to sell alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m.

In addition, the city says the permits are subject to suspension if the following activities are taking place in, or near the establishment.

• Illegal activities requiring a police presence that occurs on or adjacent to the premises of an alcoholic establishment with emphasis on illegal activities of owner, employees, patrons underage drinking incidents, open containers, disturbances and D.U.I's
• Failure of any restaurant to maintain special outlines of an SRX such as derive 51% of gross revenue from food, be able to serve 150 people full course meals at any given time and other mandated requirements
• Complaints verified arising from adverse effects of extended hours such as noise, illegal parking, vandalism, trash, loitering and exterior lighting issues
• Violation of noise ordinance

Businesses found to be in violation will receive several warnings but will be fined $500 on the third violation. 

They could also have their extended hours permits revoked or suspended.  

The ordinance goes into effect 90 days from the date of adoption, which would be Feb. 2, 2020.

Liquor License information or to obtain a license call 1-866-470-8881

Royal Caribbean sails into beer business with South Florida’s Funky Buddha

By JOHNNY DIAZ

SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL 

Royal Caribbean and Funky Buddha Brewery are working on a beer for the cruise line's private island Perfect Day at CocoCay. (Funky Buddha Brewery / Courtesy)

Passengers aboard Royal Caribbean ships will soon be drinking a specialty beer brewed just for the Miami cruise line.

Royal Caribbean is collaborating with Funky Buddha to develop an exclusive brand of beer that will be available next month on the cruise line’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay and at the Oakland Park brewery.

The cruise line filed a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office this summer with the name of the beer, "Chilla Thrilla” according to beer blog Tenemu. John Linn, a spokesman for Funky Buddha, confirmed news of the beer brand to the South Florida Sun Sentinel Thursday.

Packaged in 12-ounce cans with bright blue, orange and white hues, the beer will have various labels that would capture a typical day on the tropical island, according to Tenemu. One flavor is called Tropical Ale with Mango & Guava. “Sips are worth the swim,’’ the label reads. The beer will have 4.5 percent alcohol by volume, said Linn.

“The beer is made with real mango and guava and is ideal for warm weather and cool water,’’ he said. “We’re very excited to have partnered with Royal Caribbean on its creation and look forward to its availability on Perfect Day at Cococay, which will begin in November.”

The beer’s name appears to reflect an area of CocoCay called Chill Island where passengers can snorkel, enjoy personal watercraft and dine in the largest venue on the island.

Royal Caribbean Perfect Day at CocoCay welcomed its first ship on Saturday, May 4, 2019 as Navigator of the Seas let loose about 3,500 guests to the island with much of its $250 million in upgrades in place including a 13-slide water park, zip line and helium balloon. (Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel)

In the last year, Royal Caribbean has been investing up to $200 million to upgrade its private island in the Bahamas. Amenities include a 13-slide water park, zip line and helium balloon ride.

Among the ships that stop on the island are Miami-based Symphony of the Seas, aka the world’s largest cruise ship, Navigator of the Seas, also out of PortMiami, and Harmony of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas out of Port Canaveral.

Carnival also has several brands of its own beer with ThirstyFrog on Carnival Vista’s brewery, and ParchedPig on Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama. The Doral-based cruise line also brews, cans and kegs its own beer in partnership with Brew Hub of Lakeland, said Vance Gulliksen, a Carnival spokesman.

The beers are available in 16-ounce cans and on tap across the company’s 26 ships and private destinations.

By JOHNNY DIAZ

SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL 

It’s 5 o’clock on Fort Myers Beach: New Margaritaville Resort gets the green light

Reporter:	Brea Hollingsworth
Writer:	Briana Harvath

In just a few months, Fort Myers Beach will never look the same again.

What is now a mostly vacant lot will soon transform into the Fort Myers Beach Margaritaville Resort—a 254-room hotel with a beach club, shops and more.

Two lawsuits had delayed construction on the new resort, but now that they’ve both been resolved, “that means you’ll see demolition of existing structures and construction of the new project starting sometime right after the first of the year,” says Margaritaville Spokesperson John Gucciard.

That’s good news for businesses like On The Sand. Employee Judy Ann Liot says they expect even more customers at their gift shop.

“Whether they’re locals, from different parts of Florida, from Europe, from Canada—it’s all going to be very, very well received,” said Liot.

Vacationers Cherri Cox and Pam Brienza say no doubt people will want to come in and have “cheeseburgers in paradise” or get “wasted away in Margaritaville.” It’ll also bring a whole new attraction to Fort Myers Beach.

“You have more hotels, you’re not calling and saying, ‘Oh, we’re booked,'” said Brienza.

“It’s going to bring a lot of business to this area and if the hotel rooms are really expensive, it’s definitely going to bring a lot of money to the mom-and-pop shops,” added Cox.

So what’s next for the coming resort?

As they finish up the legal process on the project, there are also plans in the works to build employee housing, a hotel and extra parking offsite. Developers will meet with the hearing examiner at the end of the month.

They hope to open the hotel in 2022.