ISSUE:  Should the Legislature preserve Florida’s current Dram Shop Statute.

DISCUSSION: The Florida Retail Federation works diligently to preserve Florida’s Dram Shop Statute. Current law provides that a person who sells or furnishes alcoholic beverages to a person of lawful drinking age shall not thereby become liable for injury or damage caused by or resulting from the intoxication of such person, except that a person who willfully and unlawfully sells or furnishes alcoholic beverages to a person who is not of lawful drinking age or who knowingly serves a person habitually addicted to the use of alcoholic beverages may become liable for injury or damage caused by or resulting from the intoxication of such minor or person.

POSITION: The Florida Retail Federation continues to emphasize education as the key factor in reducing over-consumption and underage sales and encourages Florida’s lawmakers to make no changes to the current statute.