Florida Statutes
Chapter 561 - Beverage Law: Administration
561.25 - Officers and Employees Prohibited From Being Employed by or Engaging in Beverage Business; Penalties; Exceptions.


(1) No officer or employee of the division, and no sheriff or other state, county, or municipal officer with state police power granted by the Legislature, shall be permitted to engage in the sale of alcoholic beverages under the Beverage Law; or shall be employed, directly or indirectly, in connection with the operation of any business licensed under the Beverage Law; or shall be permitted to own any stock or interest in any firm, partnership, or corporation dealing wholly or partly in the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages, except as provided in this section. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to prevent any certified law enforcement officer, except members of the Florida Highway Patrol or its auxiliary, or employees of the division, from being employed in businesses which have obtained licenses only to sell beer or beer and wine for consumption off the premises. However, the written approval of the chief of police, sheriff, or other appropriate department head must be obtained for any such employment.
(2) Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, and shall be automatically removed or suspended from office.
(3) Nothing herein may be construed to prohibit any sheriff or other state, county, or municipal officer with state police power granted by the Legislature from owning, negotiating, or trading any shares of stock, bonds, or other securities which are regulated by and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and which are customarily traded on the major stock exchanges of the United States, or from being employed as an entertainer or from rendering security services when off duty in any business establishment licensed under the beverage laws to sell beverages, provided the written approval of the chief of police, sheriff, or other appropriate department head is obtained for the place and hours of such employment or service. Any officer employed for the purposes of rendering private security services as permitted under this section shall not be paid less than the established prevailing wage.
History.—s. 3, ch. 16774, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 4151(229), 7648(4); s. 6, ch. 22663, 1945; s. 20, ch. 57-420; ss. 16, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 70-346; s. 560, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 72-93; s. 1, ch. 72-230; s. 144, ch. 73-333; s. 1, ch. 77-471; s. 1, ch. 79-349; s. 2, ch. 88-404; s. 148, ch. 91-224.

Structure Florida Statutes

Florida Statutes

Title XXXIV - Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco

Chapter 561 - Beverage Law: Administration

561.01 - Definitions.

561.02 - Creation and Duties of Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.

561.025 - Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Trust Fund.

561.027 - Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund.

561.051 - Reporting Requirements of Director.

561.08 - Enforcement of Beverage Law; Division to Prescribe Forms.

561.11 - Power and Authority of Division.

561.1105 - Inspection of Licensed Premises; Coin-Operated Amusement Machines.

561.111 - Payment of Taxes by Electronic Funds Transfer.

561.121 - Deposit of Revenue.

561.1211 - Credit for Contributions to Eligible Nonprofit Scholarship-Funding Organizations.

561.1212 - Credit for Contributions to the New Worlds Reading Initiative.

561.1213 - Credit for Contributions to Eligible Charitable Organizations.

561.14 - License and Registration Classification.

561.15 - Licenses; Qualifications Required.

561.17 - License and Registration Applications; Approved Person.

561.18 - License Investigation.

561.181 - Temporary Initial Licenses.

561.19 - License Issuance Upon Approval of Division.

561.20 - Limitation Upon Number of Licenses Issued.

561.22 - Licensing Manufacturers, Distributors, and Registered Exporters as Vendors Prohibited.

561.221 - Licensing of Manufacturers and Distributors as Vendors and of Vendors as Manufacturers; Conditions and Limitations.

561.23 - License Display.

561.24 - Licensing Manufacturers as Distributors or Registered Exporters Prohibited; Procedure for Issuance and Renewal of Distributors’ Licenses and Exporters’ Registrations.

561.25 - Officers and Employees Prohibited From Being Employed by or Engaging in Beverage Business; Penalties; Exceptions.

561.26 - Term of License.

561.27 - Renewal of License.

561.29 - Revocation and Suspension of License; Power to Subpoena.

561.32 - Transfer of Licenses; Change of Officers or Directors; Transfer of Interest.

561.33 - Licensee Moving to New Location; Changing Name of Business.

561.331 - Temporary License Upon Application for Transfer, Change of Location, or Change of Type or Series.

561.342 - County and Municipal License Tax.

561.351 - Manufacturers, Brokers, Sales Agents, Importers, and Passenger Common Carriers; Term of License.

561.37 - Bond for Payment of Taxes.

561.371 - Bond for Payment of Taxes by Spirituous Liquor Distributors.

561.38 - Issuance of License Prohibited Until Bond Approved; Cancellation or Expiration of Bond.

561.41 - Maintenance and Designation of Principal Office by Manufacturers, Distributors, Importers, and Exporters.

561.411 - Qualifications for Distributors.

561.42 - Tied House Evil; Financial Aid and Assistance to Vendor by Manufacturer, Distributor, Importer, Primary American Source of Supply, Brand Owner or Registrant, or Any Broker, Sales Agent, or Sales Person Thereof, Prohibited; Procedure for Enfo...

561.4205 - Keg Deposits; Limited Alternative Inventory and Reconciliation Process.

561.421 - Temporary Convention Permits.

561.422 - Nonprofit Civic Organizations, Charitable Organizations, Municipalities, and Counties; Temporary Permits.

561.423 - Beer and Malt Beverages; In-Store Servicing Authorized.

561.424 - Vinous Beverages; In-Store Servicing Authorized.

561.43 - Dry Counties; Manufacturers’ or Distributors’ Licenses; Exporters’ Registrations; Exemptions.

561.49 - No Tax on Out-of-State Sales.

561.495 - Legislative Findings; Cost of Regulating Imported Beverages.

561.50 - One State Tax Payment; Reports.

561.5101 - Come-to-Rest Requirement; Exceptions; Penalties.

561.54 - Certain Deliveries of Beverages Prohibited.

561.545 - Certain Shipments of Beverages Prohibited; Penalties; Exceptions.

561.55 - Manufacturers’, Distributors’, Brokers’, Sales Agents’, Importers’, Vendors’, and Exporters’ Records and Reports.

561.56 - Transportation of Beverages by Manufacturers, Distributors, and Exporters.

561.57 - Deliveries by Licensees.

561.58 - Issuance of License for a Prior License Revoked.

561.65 - Mortgagee’s Interest in License.

561.66 - Legislative Intent.

561.665 - Division to Restrict Licensees From Permitting Certain Activities.

561.67 - Reclamation by Distributor of Beverages Not Paid for by Licensed Vendors.

561.68 - Licensure; Distributor’s Salespersons.

561.695 - Stand-Alone Bar Enforcement; Qualification; Penalties.

561.701 - Short Title.

561.702 - Legislative Intent.

561.703 - Definitions Relating to Florida Responsible Vendor Act.

561.705 - Responsible Vendor Qualification.

561.706 - Exemption From License Suspension or Revocation; Mitigation for Certain Beverage Law Violations; Records of Arrests.