64 oz. refillable beer jugs illegal in Florida thanks to Budweiser...but not for long

[d_legendary1]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — After a two-year political and public relations battle, Florida's craft beer fans may soon be able to leave their local brewery with the preferred half-gallon refillable jug of the microbrew they love and retire their "Free the growler" T-shirts.

The Florida Legislature appears poised to pass a bill that would legalize 64-ounce refillable beer jugs or "growlers," which are legal in every other state. Florida already allows quart and gallon growlers, but the popular half-gallon became a pawn in a battle over the complex laws regulating brewing and sale of beer. Politically powerful distributors of Anheuser-Busch, the makers of Budweiser, effectively blocked legislation legalizing growlers as they sought to preserve the legal structure on which their business is built.

The result was a political headache for the majority Republicans in the Florida Legislature. They appeared to side against the small businesses and entrepreneurs they profess to love, and in favor of government regulation.

"People sense that the big guy is beating up on the little guy and it just feels wrong," said state Rep. Dana Young, R-Tampa, a growler backer. "It's been making the government look bad."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ap/ap/florida/in-floridas-beer-war-the-growler-appears-to-be-win/nkcPn/

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[Cirque du So-What]

1. "It's been making the government look bad."

That and about 100 other wrongheaded notions, Dana.

[Fritz Walter]

2. Glad to read this

My inventory of growlers already includes two one-quart containers and one one-gallon.

This means that I can avoid the work-around of filling the two quarts (and paying extra) once I get to expand my inventory to include half-gallon growlers.

[d_legendary1]

5. Glad this is gonna work out for you

And welcome to DU!!!

[customerserviceguy]

3. Another reason to hate macro-beer.

Not like I didn't have enough already.

[d_legendary1]

4. Never liked Anheuser-Busch anyway

Gotta drink five beers to feel buzzed. And I'm a light weight compared to some of my other friends who can down ten and walk a line.