Fla. Stat. 561.706
Exemption from license suspension or revocation; mitigation for certain beverage law violations; records of arrests

(1)

The license of a vendor qualified as a responsible vendor under this act may not be suspended or revoked for an employee’s illegal sale or service of an alcoholic beverage to a person who is not of lawful drinking age or for an employee’s engaging in or permitting others to engage in the illegal sale, use of, or trafficking in controlled substances, if the employee had completed the applicable training prescribed by this act prior to committing such violation, unless the vendor had knowledge of the violation, should have known about such violation, or participated in or committed such violation. No vendor may use as a defense to suspension or revocation the fact that she or he was absent from the licensed premises at the time a violation of the Beverage Law occurred if the violations are flagrant, persistent, repeated, or recurring.

(2)

The division shall consider qualification as a responsible vendor in mitigation of administrative penalties for an employee’s illegal sale or service of an alcoholic beverage to a person who is not of lawful drinking age and if the vendor has administered the applicable courses for controlled substances, for an employee’s engaging in the illegal sale, use of, or trafficking in controlled substances.

(3)

The division shall maintain a record of each arrest of a vendor or an employee for a violation of s. 562.11, and shall ascertain at the time of the arrest whether the vendor has provided training for its employees as provided in s. 561.705 or pursuant to any other program instituted by the vendor. In compiling the record of arrests, the division shall determine if the vendor trained its employees as provided in s. 561.705, pursuant to any other training program, or did not train its employees in a manner similar to the provisions of s. 561.705. The records may be examined by any interested person.

Source: Section 561.706 — Exemption from license suspension or revocation; mitigation for certain beverage law violations; records of arrests, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0561.­706 (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

§ 561.706. Exemption from license suspension or revocation; mitigation for certain beverage law violations; records of arrests's source at flsenate​.gov