Beer and Wine License: Does your restaurant really need one?

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably opening a new bar or thinking of adding a bar to your existing restaurant.

Often, hotel owners wonder if they really need to have a license when they open a liquor shop. If you have plans to sell liquor or hot drinks, you cannot do that unless you have an authorized license to do it. Before you begin with your restaurant inauguration, it’s recommended to have a better perception about the state laws to avoid law suits. However, the beer laws vary from state to state. So ensure that you’re making yourself familiar with the right state laws to avoid litigations. Unless you have the license, it’s an offense to sell even one single drink. But how do you get an alcoholic beverages license?

How to get a liquor license: Is it easy or hard?

Before applying for the liquor license (which is a combination of all the types of alcoholic beverages like wine, beer, whiskey and liquor), you need to know about the different liquor licenses. Based on the types, you can determine which can be a suitable license for your restaurant. For those planning to open their own business or establishment that sells alcohol, then you need to get Florida beer and wine license. It’s a type of license that permits the purchase and sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption. Otherwise, the common rules apply.

Liquor license is classified into different classes

Class A: This type of license permits the sale of liquor for off-premises consumption. Food service is the primary basis of trade for a Class A. They can be issued with or without minors allowed, primarily depending on the factor such as food service and style of operation. However, they should satisfy certain criterias like, they should have commercial-grade equipment. For example, a microwave, toaster oven or hot dog machine.

Class B: This license is open to customers who have funded an entry fee, have purchased a coupon/receipt or are otherwise permitted to use the recreational facility, tourist facility and others. Class B liquor license are eligible for spas, salons and barbershops.

Class C– It’s a restricted license for the sale and consumption of liquor in restricted areas and are provided only to specific individuals. The facilities primarily include clubs, canteen, institutions and travel lounges.

Identifying the perfect liquor license for your industry can be a daunting and sometimes, nerve wracking process.

To Sum it up

For new and prospective restaurant owners in Florida, they need to get Florida beer and wine license to sell beer and wine anywhere in the state. However, if the business cannot meet the required probability, the government has the authority to revoke or deny the license anytime. So, extreme care has to be taken not only while applying the license rather follow the state laws and regulation to retain the license.