‘Alcohol to go’ on the move in Florida Residence

TALLAHASSEE – A measure that has been dubbed the “alcohol to go” bill will have to travel back to the Senate, as lawmakers continue striving to concur on specifics.

The Dwelling on Tuesday took up the Senate model of the invoice (SB 148) but manufactured variations. Though the Residence is envisioned to move the monthly bill Wednesday, the revised evaluate then would have to bounce back again to the Senate.

The monthly bill is intended to make long lasting a COVID-19 pandemic crisis get that enables dining places to offer alcoholic beverages with get-household meals.

House sponsor Josie Tomkow, R-Polk City, claimed the monthly bill would “codify the spirit” of the government buy. She reported the House modifications contain troubles these as requiring that foodstuff and non-alcoholic beverages ought to make up at least 25 p.c of the charge of orders when alcoholic beverages is marketed for off-site consumption.

The Senate voted 38-2 to approve its model of the measure last week.

The “alcohol to go” strategy has drawn prevalent help from business enterprise lobbying teams considering that Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an govt order in March 2020 to offer an supplemental source of profits at dining establishments forced to scale back again functions in the early levels of the pandemic.