Fla. Stat. 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.

Source: Section 561.25 — Officers and employees prohibited from being employed by or engaging in beverage business; penalties; exceptions, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0561.­25 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

561.01
Definitions 561.02
Creation and duties of Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco 561.08
Enforcement of Beverage Law 561.11
Power and authority of division 561.14
License and registration classification 561.15
Licenses 561.17
License and registration applications 561.18
License investigation 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 561.23
License display 561.24
Licensing manufacturers as distributors or registered exporters prohibited 561.25
Officers and employees prohibited from being employed by or engaging in beverage business 561.025
Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Trust Fund 561.26
Term of license 561.27
Renewal of license 561.027
Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund 561.29
Revocation and suspension of license 561.32
Transfer of licenses 561.33
Licensee moving to new location 561.37
Bond for payment of taxes 561.38
Issuance of license prohibited until bond approved 561.41
Maintenance and designation of principal office by manufacturers, distributors, importers, and exporters 561.42
Tied house evil 561.43
Dry counties 561.49
No tax on out-of-state sales 561.50
One state tax payment 561.051
Reporting requirements of director 561.54
Certain deliveries of beverages prohibited 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 561.67
Reclamation by distributor of beverages not paid for by licensed vendors 561.68
Licensure 561.111
Payment of taxes by electronic funds transfer 561.121
Deposit of revenue 561.181
Temporary initial licenses 561.221
Licensing of manufacturers and distributors as vendors and of vendors as manufacturers 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 561.371
Bond for payment of taxes by spirituous liquor distributors 561.411
Qualifications for distributors 561.421
Temporary convention permits 561.422
Nonprofit civic organizations, charitable organizations, municipalities, and counties 561.423
Beer and malt beverages 561.424
Vinous beverages 561.425
Distilled spirits 561.495
Legislative findings 561.545
Certain shipments of beverages prohibited 561.665
Division to restrict licensees from permitting certain activities 561.695
Stand-alone bar enforcement 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 561.1105
Inspection of licensed premises 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 561.1214
Child care tax credits 561.4205
Keg deposits 561.5101
Come-to-rest requirement

Current through Fall 2025

§ 561.25. Officers & employees prohibited from being employed by or engaging in beverage business; penalties; exceptions's source at flsenate​.gov