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The new law repeals a 1965 provision that forced retail stores to limit the number of beer sizes, opening the door to some 2,000 imports and specialty brews.
By JULIE HAUSERMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 31, 2001
TALLAHASSEE -- Beer drinkers, raise your mugs for a toast.
Gov. Jeb Bush on Wednesday signed a law that will give Floridians a chance to sip some 2,000 types of beer that have been off-limits in the state for more than 30 years.
The new law repeals a 1965 provision that forced retail stores in Florida to sell beer in four sizes only: 8, 12, 16 or 32 ounces. Many imports come in metric sizes, and some trendy microbrews come in 22-ounce bottles.
Now, Florida's beer drinkers will be allowed to buy any beer or cider that contains 32 ounces or less.
The bill passed the Legislature easily this year, though final approval didn't come until the session's final hour. In years past, wholesale beer distributors fought the bill, arguing that beer prices would go up because they'd need more warehouse space and bigger trucks to accommodate different sized bottles.
This year, though, the wholesalers didn't do much to fight the measure, said state Sen. Tom Lee, the Brandon Republican who shepherded the bill through the Legislature.
"The real story to me is there's nothing different this year than last year except that a powerful special interest group wasn't opposing the bill this time," Lee said.
"It shows how much power special interests can have over 160 lawmakers."
Lee said the new law to allow more beer sizes "certainly isn't going to change the world," but, he added, "there's an important principal involved. A lot of people ran on the issue of less government.
"This was an opportunity for less government regulation."
The law takes effect Oct. 1.