Licensing of manufacturers and distributors as vendors and of vendors as manufacturers; conditions and limitations.

(1)(a) Nothing contained in s. 561.22, s. 561.42, or any other provision of the Beverage Law prohibits the ownership, management, operation, or control of not more than three vendor’s licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages by a manufacturer of wine who is licensed and engaged in the manufacture of wine in this state, even if such manufacturer is also licensed as a distributor; provided that no such vendor’s license shall be owned, managed, operated, or controlled by any licensed manufacturer of wine unless the licensed premises of the vendor are situated on property contiguous to the manufacturing premises of the licensed manufacturer of wine.

(b) The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco shall issue permits to a certified Florida Farm Winery to conduct tasting and sales of wine produced by certified Florida Farm Wineries at Florida fairs, trade shows, expositions, and festivals. The certified Florida Farm Winery shall pay all entry fees and shall have a winery representative present during the event. The permit is limited to the length of the event.

(2)(a) Notwithstanding s. 561.22, s. 561.42, or any other provision of the Beverage Law, the division is authorized to issue vendor’s licenses to a manufacturer of malt beverages, even if such manufacturer is also licensed as a distributor, for the sale of alcoholic beverages on property consisting of a single complex, which property shall include a brewery. However, such property may be divided by no more than one public street or highway.

(b) The licensed vendor premises shall be included on the sketch or diagram defining the licensed premises submitted with the manufacturer’s license application pursuant to s. 561.01(11). All sketch or diagram revisions by the manufacturer must be approved by the division, verifying that the vendor premises operated by the licensed manufacturer is owned or leased by the manufacturer and is located on the licensed manufacturing premises.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Beverage Law, a manufacturer holding multiple manufacturing licenses may transfer malt beverages to a licensed facility, as provided in s. 563.022(14)(d), in an amount up to the yearly production amount at the receiving facility. Malt beverages and other alcoholic beverages manufactured by another licensed manufacturer, including any malt beverages that are owned in whole or in part by the manufacturer but are brewed by another manufacturer, must be obtained through a licensed distributor that is not also a licensed manufacturer, a licensed broker or sales agent, or a licensed importer.

(d) A manufacturer possessing a vendor’s license under this subsection is not permitted to make deliveries under s. 561.57(1).

(e) The division is authorized to issue up to eight vendor’s licenses to a manufacturer of malt beverages pursuant to this subsection.

(3)(a) Notwithstanding other provisions of the Beverage Law, any vendor licensed in this state may be licensed as a manufacturer of malt beverages upon a finding by the division that:

1. The vendor will be engaged in brewing malt beverages at a single location and in an amount which will not exceed 10,000 kegs per year. For purposes of this subsection, the term “keg” means 15.5 gallons.

2. The malt beverages so brewed will be sold to consumers for consumption on the vendor’s licensed premises or on contiguous licensed premises owned by the vendor.

(b) Any vendor which is also licensed as a manufacturer of malt beverages pursuant to this subsection shall be responsible for applicable reports pursuant to ss. 561.50 and 561.55 with respect to the amount of beverage manufactured each month and shall pay applicable excise taxes thereon to the division by the 10th day of each month for the previous month.

(c) It shall be unlawful for any licensed distributor of malt beverages or any officer, agent, or other representative thereof to discourage or prohibit any vendor licensed as a manufacturer under this subsection from offering malt beverages brewed for consumption on the licensed premises of the vendor.

(d) It shall be unlawful for any manufacturer of malt beverages or any officer, agent, or other representative thereof to take any action to discourage or prohibit any distributor of the manufacturer’s product from distributing such product to a licensed vendor which is also licensed as a manufacturer of malt beverages pursuant to this subsection.