HB 1201 Summary

• Revises licensure requirements for "primary American source of supply" for wine and distilled spirits, including manufacturers, vintners, wineries, bottlers, and certain licensees who directly purchase products from manufacturers.

• Sets annual license fees at $15 per brand for wine and $30 per brand for distilled spirits requiring federal label approval and scheduled for shipment to distributors within Florida.

• Prohibits any person from altering trademarks of manufacturers, rectifiers, bottlers, or brand owners on products shipped into Florida.

• Requires distributors and importers to purchase wine and distilled spirits directly from licensed primary American sources of supply, with limited exceptions for brands without a primary American source.

• Takes effect July 1, 2014, and makes conforming changes to provisions governing brokers, tied house restrictions, and legal remedies under Florida's Beverage Law.