Florida: Local companies cheer Gov. Scott’s veto of liquor-sales bill
Source: The Ledger
By Kevin Bouffard
May 25, 2017
Two Central Florida companies who opposed the bill ending the state’s “liquor wall” greeted Gov. Rick Scott’s veto of the bill warmly on Thursday.
“Governor Scott’s decision to veto the bill means the level playing field we compete in today will continue,” said Brian West, a Publix spokesman at its Lakeland headquarters.
The so-called “Whiskey and Wheaties Bill” would have allowed grocery stores, big-box retailers and other stores to sell liquor in the same space as other products. Currently, they must be sold in separate outlets walled off from the main store with their own entrances.
Scott announced his veto in a Wednesday evening news release.
In his veto letter, Scott took credit for repealing almost 5,000 state regulations burdening Florida businesses.
“Nevertheless, I have heard concerns as to how this bill could affect many small businesses across Florida,” he wrote. “I was a small-business owner, and many locally owned businesses have told me how this bill will impact their families and their ability to create jobs.”
Publix lobbied against the bill during this year’s legislative session, according to numerous media reports. The company owns an independent chain of liquor stores, often located next to or near its supermarkets.
Publix also said it opposed the bill because of how easily minors could have access to alcohol.
“We thank Gov. Rick Scott for vetoing Senate Bill 106,” said Charles Bailes III, president and CEO of Orlando-based ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, which also publicly opposed the bill. “After hearing from numerous Floridians from across the Sunshine State, we believe he made his decision based on what is best for the state of Florida. We applaud Governor Scott for saving hundreds of Florida small businesses that employ thousands of Floridians, while at the same time keeping safeguards in place for minors.”
Founded in 1936, ABC is a privately held company with about 130 stores across Florida, including five Polk County outlets.
Publix, ABC and smaller independent liquor dealers argued the bill would put smaller stores out of business because they could not compete with the large national chains, such as Wal-Mart, that planned to sell liquor in their stores.
Wal-Mart representatives lobbied for the bill, and they expressed their disappointment with Scott’s veto in an email to The Ledger.
“Yesterday’s veto is disappointing, not only for us, but most importantly for our customers,” according to the statement provided by its public-relations representative, Consensus Communications, in Orlando. “The state’s alcohol separation laws create an unnecessary inconvenience for our customers. We look forward to working with our partners to address this issue in future sessions.”
Advocates on both sides lobbied the governor’s office after the bill narrowly passed the legislature. The office reported receiving 7,516 phone calls, emails and letters opposing the bill compared with 1,174 in support.
Independent liquor stores feared competition from the national chains as more than one-third of the independents operate Florida stores in plazas that also have big-box retailers or supermarkets.
Versions of the bill had failed in the legislature since 2014, but Target and Wal-Mart lobbied heavily during this year’s session to get it passed. Michael Corcoran, the brother of House Speaker Richard Corcoran, lobbies for Wal-Mart.
The bill was approved 21-17 by the Senate but passed by just one vote in the House. After roll call in the House, three members voted no and another switched their vote from yes to no.
The Distilled Spirits Council says Florida is one of 23 states that does not allow the sale of liquor alongside wine and beer in grocery stores and big-box retailers.
Floridians for Fair Business Practices released a statement saying they look forward to working with the Legislature next year to try to get another version of the bill passed.