This is a supplement to the training materials presented in the Affordable Alcohol Training Responsible Beverage Service Education Program and must be reviewed. 

Florida’s Governing Liquor Authority

Florida’s Governing Liquor Authority:

• The State of Florida’s governing liquor authority is the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.
• The phone number for the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco is: 850-487-1395.
• The website for the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco is: http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/abt/index.html
• Florida’s Legislature is the body responsible for enacting the state’s alcohol laws.

Liquor License and Alcohol Beverage Laws for the State of Florida

Florida’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco requires:

• Licensees to uphold all the liquor laws for the state of Florida.

• Licensees to also be knowledgeable of and abide by any local ordinances as well.
• Licensees to post the required warning signs wherever alcohol is sold. Currently eleven counties in the state of Florida have mandated that signs be posted. In other counties, the state provides funding for the voluntary posting of signs. In an effort to increase the voluntary posting of warning signs, the Department of Business & Professional Regulation has promised to reduce fines for any liquor law violations that occur on the premises of those licensees who have posted signs.

Under Florida’s Alcohol Laws:

• There are no specific laws regarding happy hour or drink specials.
• No tax breaks are ever given on any type of promotion.
• Licensees may provide a combination of food and drink for a special price.

Florida’s Responsible Vendor Program

To qualify as a Responsible Vendor in the state of Florida, licensees must meet the following conditions:

• Provide comprehensive training for all servers and sellers of alcohol that specifically covers topics having to do with alcoholic beverages and possibly controlled substances.
• Provide comprehensive training for all managers that specifically covers topics having to do with alcoholic beverages and possibly controlled substances.
• Require all new hires that aren’t managers to complete the required training within 30 days from their date of hire. Until the required training is received, those employees must be supervised at all times.
• Require all new managers to complete the required manager training within 15 days from their date of hire.
• Require all employees to participate in an informational meeting every 4 months. These meetings should cover the licensee’s policies and topics having to do with the sale and service of alcoholic beverages.
• Require all employees to fill out a form that will help to determine whether or not that employee is prohibited under the law from the service and sale of alcohol. This form must be filled out as a condition of the person’s employment.
• Set a house policy that states that any employee who unlawfully uses a controlled substance on the licensed premises will immediately be fired. This house policy must be written down and acknowledged in writing by all employees.
• Must maintain all written records such as: applications, training records, acknowledgements and any other records that document the licensee’s enforcement of policies that require dismissal from employment.
• Must post warning signs visible to customers that state the licensee’s policy on not serving minors. The consequences must be included in the warning sign.
• Must post warning signs visible to customers that state the use and/or sale of controlled substances is not permitted on the licensed premises. The consequences for doing so must be included in the warning sign.

Identification

Acceptable forms of identification in Florida are:

• Drivers License
• State ID Card 
• Passport
• Military ID

Florida’s Laws Regarding Age

Under Florida law:

• A person must be at least 21 years old to purchase and consume alcohol.
• Minors are allowed on the premises of any licensed establishment whose sales from food make up more than 50% of total sales. However, they are not allowed in the designated bar area of the establishment.
• Minors are not allowed on the premises of any licensed establishment whose sales from food make up less than 50% of total sales.
• Minors are never allowed in retail liquor stores under any circumstances. 
• Minors under the age of 18 may be employed to sell packaged liquor only when supervised by an adult.
• It is illegal to sell alcohol to a minor and doing so can result in a 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor charge.

Dram Shop Laws for the State of Florida

Dram Shop Liability:

• In the state of Florida there is no general dram shop liability for serving a person who is of legal drinking age who then causes injury or damage to another.
• Liability only results when the person willfully and illegally sells or provides alcohol to a minor or a habitually drunk person who then causes injury or damage to others.

ADDENDUM: FLORIDA’S DRAM SHOP LAW

768.125   Liability for injury or damage resulting from intoxication.

A person who sells or furnishes alcoholic beverages to a person of lawful drinking age shall not thereby become liable for injury or damage caused by or resulting from the intoxication of such person, except that a person who willfully and unlawfully sells or furnishes alcoholic beverages to a person who is not of lawful drinking age or who knowingly serves a person habitually addicted to the use of any or all alcoholic beverages may become liable for injury or damage caused by or resulting from the intoxication of such minor or person.