House Opts For Door In Grocery Store Liquor Debate

March 25, 2015

The House has joined the Senate in altering legislation aimed at allowing shoppers to pick up hard spirits while shopping for groceries or other goods.

The House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday voted 7-4 to approve an amended measure (HB 107), which would ease an 80-year-old state law that requires liquor stores to be stand-alone facilities.

Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, had initially proposed eliminating the law, but agreed to follow a recent Senate proposal that would lead to a door being the only barrier between a liquor store and other goods.

“Obviously just taking down the barrier has been a controversial subject,” Steube said. “I’m trying to come to some type of compromise. This is simply putting a door where there is a wall to allow patrons … instead of having to go outside into a door to going inside into a door.”

The Senate Regulated Industries Committee last week approved similar legislation, which has been opposed by Lakeland-based Publix but supported by Wal-Mart and Target.

by The News Service of Florida

Comments

One Response to “House Opts For Door In Grocery Store Liquor Debate”

  1. Bob's Brother on March 26th, 2015 8:15 am

    I have to applaud Mr. Pat Maclellan’s statement on this issue. We need to keep kids under 21 away from the spirits. Putting the booze in the store alongside the beans and bubba burgers isn’t a good idea. The stores lobbying for it are simply trying to cut their bottom line at the expense of public safety.

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