Small Florida businesses and especially local Florida beer manufacturers urgently need help, not in the form of handouts or disaster relief, but rather to modernize outdated laws such as selling GROWLERS TO GO.

FBG Members have strongly supported this for a long time due to, among other things:

• Tourists, who ask to buy locally manufactured Florida beer to take home from local brewpubs and microbreweries in the State as in many other States.

• The public, by increasing their choices as to where they can enjoy local, handcrafted Florida products (i.e. at home versus at the pub/restaurant).

• Law enforcement and safe driving proponents, by providing a safe, convenient and legal way for people to take a sealed container of local Florida beer home for personal consumption.

• Local small Florida brewers, by allowing them more access to the marketplace to increase production, sales, and exposure in the community as well as catering to the tourist industry.

• Wholesale distributors, by not affecting current law for large-scale distribution in the State, and eliminating the potential burden of small, marginal accounts.

• The State, by increasing jobs, taxes and assisting small businesses to remain in business that both rely upon and support tourism.

As many of you know, the Florida Brewers Guild formed a State-wide Committee and prepared the attached proposed modernized legislation to allow LIMITED DIRECT SELLING OF GROWLERS TO GO.

We are obtaining a Sponsor in the Florida Legislature for our initiative but require strong member support to insure we succeed. Areas of support include:

• Publicizing this initiative. Use a modified version of this letter that you could customize to your business/home-brew club, etc.

• Write letters to your Florida Representatives and urge others to do so. Our first shot at this is our best.

• Contact friends and family who personally know their representatives and or Governor Bush to explain this initiative and seek their help. Our Committee stands ready to assist/meet with people.

Please find enclosed information comparing current and proposed modernized legislation affecting small, local beer manufacturers throughout the State of Florida.

We as local Florida beer manufacturers, small businessmen, employees and consumers greatly appreciate your time and consideration in assisting us in modernizing legislation affecting small, local beer manufacturers throughout the State of Florida. Your action in this area will greatly assist small local Florida business to remain in business – the key to job creation and economic growth.

We welcome your support of this important effort throughout the State.

Sincerely,

Florida Brewers Guild
Initiative Action Committee

Edward Canty: 727-866-7350, FBGuild@aol.com
John Cheek: 321-299-5821, john@liquidbread.com
John Doble: 813-920-8607, jdoble@tampabay.rr.com
Bob Haa (Chair): 813-857-7552, bobhaajr@earthlink.net
Madison Roane: 850-830-6614, madisonbrews@yahoo.com