The Florida Senate approved SB 1714 (http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2014/1714/BillText/e2/PDF). The bill allows Florida brewers to sell 64-ounce beer growlers to customers for consumption off the premises. However, the bill also prevents those brewing more than 1,000 barrels (2,000 kegs) from selling more than 20% of their beer directly to consumers instead of through a distributor. The bill sets limits on the sale of kegs to one per person per day. Florida has similar restrictions on retail sales from craft distilleries, limiting sales to two bottles per customer. Next for the bill is the Florida House of Representatives.

The labels recently issued by TTB for Palcohol, a powdered alcohol product, were issued in error. According to the Associated Press, a TTB representative sent an email to the AP late Monday indicating that the approvals were issued in error. Palcohol noted that there was a “discrepancy on our fill level, how much powder is in the bag,” and it will resubmit the labels for approval.  

Alaskan lawmakers are discussing a bill that would allow craft distillers to sell directly to consumers. House Bill 309 is aimed at improving tourism to Alaska’s distilleries. The new bill would allow distilleries to sell as much as a gallon of alcohol from the distillery and offer samples of as much as 3 ounces to visitors. To read the full text of the bill visit: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=HB0309A&session=28