IMPORTANT NEWS...

The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Holds Annual Quota Liquor License Drawing

November 13, 2008

TALLAHASSEE—Today, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco held the Annual Quota Liquor License Drawing.  The applicants who were chosen during the drawing win the right to apply for the issuance of a limited number of quota licenses.

Establishments that sell less than 51 percent food and wish to sell liquor must obtain a quota liquor license.  For every increase in the population of a county by 7,500 residents, a new quota license is created. In order to obtain a quota license, establishments must either buy an existing license, or enter the quota drawing to win the right to apply for a quota license. The winners may then apply for the issuance of the new license.

“The winners of today’s liquor lottery drawing represent the opportunity for new businesses in Florida, and the creation of new businesses is great for our economy,” said Secretary Charles W. Drago. 

Licenses were available in the following counties: Bay, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Clay, Collier, Dade, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Polk, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, Volusia, Wakulla and Walton.
 
The lottery is conducted through a double random computer drawing from the pool of qualified applicants in the available counties.  Those applicants chosen in the drawings will be notified by certified mail of their eligibility to apply for a license.  A list of winners is also available at, http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/abt/index.html.

The mission of ABT is to keep alcohol and tobacco out of the hands of underage persons, to ensure that licensed establishments are in compliance with the laws and rules regulating the industry in Florida, and to collect taxes and fees related to these industries.

The Department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly.  The Department licenses more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from real estate agents, veterinarians, and accountants to contractors and cosmetologists.  For more information, please visit www.MyFloridaLicense.com.

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