New liquor laws would ease regulations for small and mid-sized restaurants

Excited to see the new liquor laws in Florida. This is a welcome and much needed change for all small and mid-sized restaurants. Let us know if you need help with changes to your current operations to take advantage of this new change.

A tweak in the language of Chapter 561.20 of the 2016 Florida Statutes (and the subsequent Rule 61A-3.0141) could mean big changes for small and mid-sized restaurants looking to acquire a special liquor license, or "SRX" license.

Prior to the change, restaurants needed to:

• derive at least 51 percent of gross revenue from the sale of food and nonalcoholic beverages

• be least 2,500 square feet, with the required square footage including the restaurant’s building "and other outside areas which are contiguous to the building"

• be equipped to serve 150 persons "full course meals at tables at one time."

Now in order to obtain the special license, restaurants need to:

• derive at least 51 percent of gross food and beverage revenue from the sale of food and nonalcoholic beverages

• be at least 2,500 square feet, with the required square footage including the restaurant’s "buildings" and "other contiguous outside areas which are under the management and control of the licensed food service establishment"

• be "equipped to serve meals to 150 persons at one time."

The new law does away with specifications for the number of tables and chairs, the need to serve "full course meals" (salad or vegetable, entrée, beverage, and bread) and for outside areas to be contiguous to the building.

The news article can be found at the following link.