Future riders of All Aboard FloridaĀ would be allowed aĀ tipple as they wait for a train under legislationĀ moving in the Legislature.
The already-approved Senate bill (SB 698) was passed by the House Friday on a 115-1 vote, with only Keystone Heights Republican Charles Van Zant opposed. The House added some changes, though, sending it back to the Senate.
The alcoholic-beverage omnibus bill permitsĀ booze to be sold on All Aboard Florida trains and in its transit stations. The idea is that restaurants, includingĀ brewpubs, that may lease space in stations also can apply for licenses to sell beer, wine and liquor.
On trains, however, “it is unlawful … toĀ sell any liquor except in miniature bottles of not more than 2 ounces,” the bill says.
“The alcoholic beverages sold are for consumption on the licensed premises and may be consumed in all areas within the railroad transit station and on the passenger train.”
The controversial regional-rail system willĀ connect Orlando to West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, and is scheduled to beginĀ running next year.
Critics, particularly in the Treasure Coast, have questioned its effect on quality-of-life. The planned rail lineĀ goes through manyĀ communities concerned about noise and railroad-crossing safety.
Among its other provisions, the legislation also helps the stateās theme parks, which are volumeĀ users ofĀ beer kegs.
Instead of charging certain customers a deposit on each individual keg bought, distributors canĀ set up an āinventory and reconciliation processā in which buyers would pay up once or twice a year based on what theyĀ used.
Theme parks use thousands of kegs a year, and they say having to keep track of each deposit has proved an administrative nightmare.
Still other language in the measure would make it easier for convenience stores that sell beer to refill growlers, theĀ glass jugs used to take home beer on tap.Ā FloridaĀ legalized the half-gallon (64 ounces) size of growlers last year.
The bill mandates that the “taps or mechanisms used to refill growlers are not accessible to customers” and that employees who refillĀ growlers be at least 18 years old.
Editor’s Note: This version corrects an earlier version that said the bill was heading to Gov. Rick Scott’s desk.
