Fla. Stat. 561.705
Responsible vendor qualification


(1)

Provide a course of instruction for its employees that must include subjects dealing with alcoholic beverages and may also include subjects dealing with controlled substances as follows:Laws covering the service of alcoholic beverages and the operation of establishments serving alcoholic beverages.Alcohol or controlled substances or both as a drug and its effects on the body and behavior, including its effects on a person operating a motor vehicle.Effects of alcohol in combination with commonly used drugs, both legal and illegal.Methods of recognizing and dealing with underaged customers.Methods for dealing with customers, and for dealing with employees, who use or traffic in illegal drugs.

(a)

Laws covering the service of alcoholic beverages and the operation of establishments serving alcoholic beverages.

(b)

Alcohol or controlled substances or both as a drug and its effects on the body and behavior, including its effects on a person operating a motor vehicle.

(c)

Effects of alcohol in combination with commonly used drugs, both legal and illegal.

(d)

Methods of recognizing and dealing with underaged customers.

(e)

Methods for dealing with customers, and for dealing with employees, who use or traffic in illegal drugs.

(2)

Provide an alcohol server management course for managers of establishments that sell alcoholic beverages. The course must include subjects on alcoholic beverages and may include subjects on controlled substances as follows:Laws governing the service of alcoholic beverages and the operation of establishments serving alcoholic beverages.Development of standard operating procedures for dealing with underaged customers.Development of standard operating procedures for dealing with customers, and for dealing with employees, who use or traffic in illegal drugs.Methods of assisting employees in dealing with underaged customers and in maintaining records that relate to such incidents.

(a)

Laws governing the service of alcoholic beverages and the operation of establishments serving alcoholic beverages.

(b)

Development of standard operating procedures for dealing with underaged customers.

(c)

Development of standard operating procedures for dealing with customers, and for dealing with employees, who use or traffic in illegal drugs.

(d)

Methods of assisting employees in dealing with underaged customers and in maintaining records that relate to such incidents.

(3)

Require each nonmanagerial employee who is employed to serve alcoholic beverages to complete the employee training course specified in subsection (1) within 30 days after commencing employment. The vendor must provide for the supervision of such an employee in the service of alcoholic beverages until the employee has received such training.

(4)

Require each managerial employee to complete the managerial training course specified in subsection (2) within 15 days after commencing employment.

(5)

Require all employees to attend one meeting every 4 months. Each meeting must include the dissemination of information covering the applicable subjects specified in this section and an explanation of the vendor’s policies and procedures relating to those subjects.

(6)

Require each employee, as a condition of her or his initial employment, to complete a written questionnaire providing the vendor the same information as is required by the division from persons who apply for alcoholic beverage licenses and to determine therefrom whether the employee is precluded by law from serving or selling alcoholic beverages; however, employees of vendors licensed under s. 563.02(1)(a) or s. 564.02(1)(a) shall not be subject to the requirements of this subsection.

(7)

Establish a written policy under which any employee who engages in the illegal use of controlled substances on the licensed premises will be immediately dismissed from employment and require each employee to acknowledge the policy in writing.

(8)

Maintain employment records of the applications, acknowledgments, and training of its employees required by this section and records of the vendor’s enforcement of the policies requiring dismissal specified in subsection (7).

(9)

Post signs on the vendor’s premises informing customers of the vendor’s policy against serving alcoholic beverages to underaged persons and informing customers that the purchase of alcoholic beverages by an underaged person or the illegal use of or trafficking in controlled substances will result in ejection from the premises and prosecution.

Source: Section 561.705 — Responsible vendor qualification, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0561.­705 (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

§ 561.705. Responsible vendor qualification's source at flsenate​.gov