Gov. Rick Scott has until the end of the day Wednesday to make a decision on the proposed "whiskey and Wheaties" bill that would repeal a decades-old law requiring hard spirits to be sold in separate facilities from grocery and other big-box stores — an issue also known as the “liquor wall.”
The motion to knock down the liquor wall is supported by retailers like Target and Walmart, but Scott, who is nearing deadline, hasn't indicated what he will do with the proposal.
Members of the Florida Independent Spirits Association, along with Publix Super Markets and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, oppose the repeal, and have stepped up the pro-veto movement since the House narrowly signed off of the measure in a 58-57 vote on April 26.
The governor's office as of Friday had received 2,674 emails, 570 letters and 235 calls in opposition to the bill, according to a report by Orlando Weekly. Another 3,245 names were submitted via petitions collected at independent liquor stores.
Counteracting that, the governor's office has allegedly also received 434 phone calls, 320 emails and seven letters that voice support for the bill.
In addition to repealing the liquor wall, the bill would prohibit new liquor and spirits stores from being licensed within 1,000 feet of schools; limit small bottles of 6.8 ounces or less to be displayed only behind the register; and require that checkout clerks under the age of 18 be supervised by people 18 or older when alcohol is being purchased.
The measure also includes a provision that could benefit Sam's Club and Costco by carving out businesses with more than 10,000 square-feet of retail space from a prohibition on the state issuing liquor licenses to gas stations where beer and wine may be sold. To help Publix with its existing leases, the bill would stagger the repeal, limiting the percentage of liquor that could be stocked in chain stores over a four-year period.