House panel barely OKs end to ‘liquor wall’

TALLAHASSEE — A heavily lobbied measure intended to knock down a decadesold prohibition on selling liquor in grocery and large retail stores narrowly continued to advance in the House on Tuesday.

The Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee voted 7-6 to support an amended proposal (HB 81) that would end a Depression-era law requiring liquor stores and bars to be separated from groceries and other retail goods, an issue commonly referred to as the “liquor wall.”

The c ont e nt i ous bi l l — sought by Wal-Mart and Target and opposed by Publix and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits — needs to make it through one more committee in the House and awaits a floor vote in the Senate (SB 106).

House sponsor Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, rejected claims by opponents that his legislation, three years in the making, will increase access to liquor by minors and harm existing businesses.

“While shopping at Publix is a pleasure, certainly their argument is not,” Avila said. “The only reason the antiquated law is being opposed is to maintain the status quo.”

Before the vote, Avila proposed an amendment that would sort alcohol licenses i nto t wo c ate gor i e s , one for businesses that seek to remain stand-alone for liquor, the other imposing fees — based on county population — for those that want to sell liquor in the same stores as other goods.

Avila said he’s also considering additional changes for when the proposal goes to the Commerce Committee. That could include requiring cashiers to be 18 or older when liquor is purchased and increasing penalties on businesses that are found selling to minors.

He also indic ated he i s open to proposals in the Senate bill that would require small bottles, 6.8 ounces or less, to be displayed only behind the counter and phasing in the law over a fouryear period.