TALLAHASSEE – Today, the Florida Legislature passed the SB 148 on Alcohol-to-Go, and the bill will now go to Governor DeSantis for signature. This legislation has been a top priority for the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA). Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants across Florida were permitted to sell alcohol-to-go with food orders pursuant to Governor DeSantis’ executive order. This was a critical lifeline for establishments who were closed to indoor dining and desperate to keep their businesses from shuttering. Following the rules closely, these restaurants demonstrated the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption to be a practice that can be done safely.
Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), released the following statement upon the bill’s final passage.
“We are so pleased for the final passage of SB 148. Alcohol-to-go continues to be an important source of revenue for restaurants that are struggling to survive. We are grateful to Senator Jennifer Bradley and Representative Josie Tomkow for sponsoring this legislation. They are champions for our industry. We would also like to thank the coalition of businesses and organizations that worked closely together to advocate for this great legislation: Uber, Anheuser-Busch, The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, and the Florida Independent Spirits Association. We are grateful to Governor DeSantis for creating this lifeline through his executive orders, and we are excited to advocate for his signature on this good bill.”
For more information on FRLA’s legislative priorities, click here.
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