08/26/2026
Thank you for all the positive support, and we have started getting some traction with the elected offices and a lot of interest from people in Tallahassee. The feedback is, this is a great opportunity to help everyone is these areas. I am being told that the distributors will never let it happen and one very large liquor retailer will be against it, follow the money and see how big companies try to crush independent producers and retailers by controlling the laws. Please scan the QR code for the exact language of the legislation, please read and share.
Understanding the alcohol business is not a concern for the general public until it starts effecting the people that make beer, wine and spirits.
The state of Florida by law requires breweries, distilleries, and wineries to use a distributor to get our products into stores and bars, around here think Bernie Little, JJ Taylor, Southern Glazer or Republic Nation. We make it, the distributor buys it from us for pennies on a dollar, mark it up and sells it to the stores and bars. Not because we need them but because the state of Florida says so by Florida Statue.
If you are a distributor, it is easy money, you don’t make it and the bars and stores have to buy only from you, so what could go wrong, Florida says it is the law.
Well, well, well the second largest distributor in the United States, Republic National Distribution Company aka RNDC, has filed bankruptcy owing 400 million dollars to 100, 000 small individual makers. This is still owed after RNDC sold assets on 1 billion. That’s right, parts of the company for1 billion and still owe 400 million to the little guys and then file bankruptcy.
Think about that the state says we must use distributors and then they go bankrupt and don’t pay us for our product.
This is going on right now and it is time for all of us small makers and the stores and bars to stand up against the state sanctioned distribution system, it does not work anymore. RNDC’s bankruptcy proves it.
As a Maker we should have our God given right to a free market, and not have to support a broken system that is a relic of 100 year old prohibition laws.
What to do: First share this and the is some legislation in the works that may give the makers in the smaller counties a change to survive.
