Florida Statute 561.545 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXXIV
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO

Chapter 561
BEVERAGE LAW: ADMINISTRATION

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561.545 Certain shipments of beverages prohibited; penalties; exceptions.—The Legislature finds that the direct shipment of alcoholic beverages by persons in the business of selling alcoholic beverages to residents of this state in violation of the Beverage Law poses a serious threat to the public health, safety, and welfare; to state revenue collections; and to the economy of the state. The Legislature further finds that the penalties for illegal direct shipment of alcoholic beverages to residents of this state should be made adequate to ensure compliance with the Beverage Law and that the measures provided for in this section are fully consistent with the powers conferred upon the state by the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution.

(1) Any person in the business of selling alcoholic beverages who knowingly and intentionally ships, or causes to be shipped, any alcoholic beverage from an out-of-state location directly to any person in this state who does not hold a valid manufacturer’s or wholesaler’s license or exporter’s registration issued by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco or who is not a state-bonded warehouse is in violation of this section.

(2) Any common carrier or permit carrier or any operator of a privately owned car, truck, bus, or other conveyance who knowingly and intentionally transports any alcoholic beverage from an out-of-state location directly to any person in this state who does not hold a valid manufacturer’s or wholesaler’s license or exporter’s registration or who is not a state-bonded warehouse is in violation of this section.

(3) Any person found by the division to be in violation of subsection (1) shall be issued a notice, by certified mail, to show cause why a cease and desist order should not be issued. Any person who violates subsection (1) within 2 years after receiving a cease and desist order or within 2 years after a prior conviction for violating subsection (1) commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(4) Any common carrier or permit carrier, or any operator of a privately owned car, truck, bus, or other conveyance found by the division to be in violation of subsection (2) as a result of a second or subsequent delivery from the same source and location, within a 2-year period after the first delivery shall be issued a notice, by certified mail, to show cause why a cease and desist order should not be issued. Any person who violates subsection (2) within 2 years after receiving the cease and desist order or within 2 years after a prior conviction for violating subsection (2) commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(5) This section does not apply to the direct shipment of sacramental alcoholic beverages to bona fide religious organizations as authorized by the division or to possession of alcoholic beverages in accordance with s. 562.15(2).

History.—s. 9, ch. 97-213.

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Amendments to 561.545

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 561.545

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S561.545 1 - LIQUOR - OUT OF STATE DISTRIBUTION TO UNLICENSED VENDOR - F: T

S561.545 2 - LIQUOR - OUT OF STATE TRANSPORT TO UNLICENSED VENDOR - F: T

Cases Citing Statute 561.545

Total Results: 3 | Sort by: Relevance | Newest First

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Bainbridge v. Bush, 148 F. Supp. 2d 1306 (M.D. Fla. 2001).

Cited 7 times | Published | District Court, M.D. Florida | 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10317, 2001 WL 826642

...The Court having reviewed said motions, the parties' memoranda, the brief of amici curiae, having heard oral argument from counsel, and being otherwise fully advised in the premises, finds and concludes as follows: I. Introduction Plaintiffs assert that the Florida direct shipment law, codified at §§ 561.54(1-2), 561.545(1), Florida Statutes, violates the Commerce Clause by discriminating against interstate wine sales and protecting economic interests of in-state business, and by regulating sales transactions that occur in other states....

...In conjunction with this distribution system, it is unlawful for any person in the business of selling alcoholic beverages to knowingly ship alcoholic beverages from an out-of-state location directly to any person in this state who does not hold a valid manufacturer's or wholesaler's license. See FLA. STAT. §§ 561.54, 561.545. In this regard, Section 561.545, Florida Statutes, provides in pertinent part: The Legislature finds that the direct shipment of alcoholic beverages by persons in the business of selling alcoholic beverages to residents of this state in violation of the Beverage Law...

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Jerry Bainbridge v. John Bush, 311 F.3d 1104 (11th Cir. 2002).

Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | 2002 WL 31487618

...Specifically, out-of-state wineries are prohibited from directly delivering their products to consumers, whether by private vehicle or common carrier. FLA. STAT. ANN. § 561.54(1).7 Violators are potentially subject to treble damages, id. § 561.54(2), and felony prosecution, id. § 561.545(3)....

...manufacturers, distributors, and exporters of such beverages so delivered and to qualified bonded warehouses in this state. 8 It is unclear whether the remedy appellants seek – an injunction against the enforcement of sections 561.54 and 561.545(1) – would actually remedy the harm from the alleged constitutional violation....

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Jerry Bainbridge v. John Bush, 311 F.3d 1104 (11th Cir. 2002).

Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

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