​We are a collection of Independently Owned Florida Craft Breweries pushing to change the unfair, antiquated malt beverage laws in Florida. As Business Owners,

we deserve the right of SELF-DISTRIBUTION.

​

Self-distribution allows breweries to sell their beer directly to retailers without being bound to share their profits with a middle-man (Distributor). Self Distribution is not a novel idea, it  already exists in over 30 states! The current laws are biased in favor of the Distributors and protects their profits, while simultaneously making it harder for start-up or smaller breweries to survive financially.  The current laws concerning beer sales in Florida:

​

  1. LIMIT CONSUMER CHOICE

  2. INHIBIT A FAIR DISPERSION OF CAPITAL TO FLORIDA BREWERIES

  3. STIFLE FREE MARKET COMMERCE

  4. UNFAIRLY ENRICH THIRD PARTIES WHO DON'T BREW BEER

  5. UNFAIRLY PREVENTS SMALL BREWERIES FROM GETTING THEIR BEER TO BARS, RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS BY ALLOWING DISTRIBUTORS TO CHOOSE WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THE INDUSTRY

  6. Mandate that a Brewery sign a contract with a Distributor FOR THE LIFE OF THE BREWERY! You can only break the contract if you pay your way out or seek legal counsel to prove they've failed to uphold their side of the contract. What other state governments FORCE A PRIVATE COMPANY TO SIGN A LIFE-LONG CONTRACT? Does this sound like FREE MARKET TO YOU?

​

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WHICH STATES TREAT BREWERIES FAIRLY BY ALLOWING THEM TO SELF-DISTRIBUTE THE BEER THEY BREW

​

​

OUR MISSION
 

SELF DISTRO SIGN.png
Barrel Stack

                STATES  THAT  ALREADY  HAVE  SELF- DISTRIBUTION 

(Courtesy craftbrewingbusiness.com)

  • Alaska (unlimited)

  • Arkansas (brewers producing up to 60,000 bbls annually)

  • Arizona (up to 3,000 bbl under 20,000 bbl production cap; unlimited to same-ownership outlets)

  • California (No restrictions on production size or on-premise [brewpubs])

  • Colorado (up to 300,000 gallons per calendar year.)

  • Connecticut

  • Hawaii

  • Idaho

  • Illinois (A craft brewer licensee, set at less than 465,000 gallons of beer annually, may self-distribute up to 232,500 gallons per year.)

  • Indiana (only brewers producing up to 30,000 bbls annually)

  • Iowa

  • Maine

  • Massachusetts

  • Minnesota (only brewers producing up to 25,000 bbls annually)

  • Montana (a brewer producing up to 60,000 bbls of beer annually).

  • New Hampshire (brewers producing less than 15,000 bbls can sell up to 5,000 bbls. For brewpubs it is 2,500 bbls).

  • New Jersey (brewers producing up to 300,000 bbls annually)

  • New Mexico

  • New York (distributors permit allows for self distribution up to a capacity of 60,000 bbl. annually. For a brew pub the distribution limit is 3,000 bbl. per year.

  • North Carolina (a brewery producing less than 25,000 bbls)

  • Ohio

  • Oklahoma

  • Oregon (Brewery licensees can self distribute with no volume restriction. Brewpubs can self distribute if their production is less than 1,000 bbls.)

  • Pennsylvania

  • Rhode Island
    License to self-distribute: Yes

  • Tennessee

  • Texas (​If you hold a Brewer's Self-Distribution License (SD), you can sell your malt beverages direct to retailers.)

  • Utah (less than 60,000 bbls)

  • Virginia (a brewery can form a separate distribution company as a distinct legal entity)

  • Vermont

  • Washington (less than 60,000 bbls)

  • Wisconsin

  • West Virginia

  • Wyoming

You'll notice

FLORIDA IS NOT

ON THE LIST!

BA FLORIDA STATS.JPG

ALL OF THIS AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONTROL OUR OWN BUSINESSES!

We're not advocating for the elimination of distributors as they play a necessary  role in the beer industry.

However,
they shouldn't wield more control over the products/brands being produced by the breweries.

© Brewers For Change