Low Moves in High Places – Beer Wholesalers Help Kill Florida Growler Bill

We’ve been called cynical from time to time here at AmericanCraftBeer.com, but when we see garbage like this go down, we can’t help but be. What took place this week in Tallahassee’s State House was clearly a case of big business colluding with entrenched politicians and a blatant attempt to limit the growing economic power of Florida’s small craft brewers.

And yes, we’re pissed…but we’re just getting started!

If you’re not on top of what’s been going down in the “Sunshine State,” here’s the deal. Florida law currently allows for the sale of growlers in two sizes: 32 oz and 128 oz (gallon). The industry standard in most states is the 64 oz size, yet for some incomprehensible reason, Florida law does not allow for these popular half-gallon growlers to be sold in the state.

On February 12, 2013, HB 715 was introduced in the Florida House of Representatives by Rep. Katie Edwards. This bill aimed to correct this longtime oversight and its passage would finally allow for the currently banned growlers to be sold by breweries to consumers.

So all good…right?

Early signs were overwhelmingly positive… And why wouldn’t they be? HB 715 would provide an economic boon to Florida’s growing craft beer industry – one of our country’s shining lights in an otherwise “not-so-great” economy. Its passage would be a win/win for both the state’s small businesses as well as for the region’s craft beer consumers…Who could possibly object to something like this? Enter the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association.

The Florida Beer Wholesalers Association represents all the state’s Anheuser-Busch distributors. Needless to say, Anheuser-Busch is an enormously valuable client for any organization to have in its stable, and the economic power that they wield within any distribution company can’t be underestimated. And no matter what they say publicly, Anheuser-Busch can’t be a fan of America’s growing craft beer industry. They’ve watched their once unassailable market share erode, year after year, while craft beer flourishes.

Obviously, Anheuser-Busch and the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association would prefer to see any legislation that benefits the state’s craft brewers (in any way) go away…And earlier this week, they made sure that it did.

Fox News is reporting that Mitch Rubin, a lobbyist representing the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association, was able to convince Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, not to give it a hearing at the House Business and Professional Regulation Subcommittee she chairs. That killed the bill’s progress entirely. Without a House hearing, the bill is essentially dead. We’re not sure exactly what went down between lobbyist Rubin and Representative Mayfield. Her offices promised that she would be releasing a statement but we don’t believe they’ve issued anything as of yet. Bottom line – this whole process smacks of big business backroom deal-making at its political worst!

As we’ve reported, this is not the first time that bills such as HB 715 have been initiated and eventually killed by the powers that be…And we’re sure that the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association is hoping that they’ve finally put an end to what they may consider a bothersome and unnecessary bill. But we promise you this – new legislation will be introduced and Florida’s craft brewers will eventually prevail. THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY. Every time Big Beer attempts to restrain the craft beer movement, they only strengthen our resolve.

Like we’ve said before…

Yes, we’re pissed…but we’re just getting started!

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