Letter to Florida governor: Craft breweries may soon tap out

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News Jax received a copy of a letter sent to Governor Ron Desantis this week from The Florida Brewers Guild. The letter is asking the governor to lift restrictions on breweries, which many are currently operating with to-go service only.

The letter says an internal poll found that 100 of the over-300 breweries in the guild are likely to close if all current restrictions stay in place for the next two weeks.

It also says over 30% of the 10,000 jobs are supplied by Florida breweries.

Broc and Stacey Flores are the owners of Fishweir Brewing Company in Jacksonville. They are also members of the Florida Brewers Guild.

“It’s pretty terrible. We’ve seen probably about a 70% drop in business,” said Broc Flores.

To keep from closing the doors at his business, Broc Flores, owner of Fishweir Brewing Company told Action News Jax that he’s is in the process of getting a food license.

Flores says he is doing all he can to keep his business running.

“It’s just unfortunate that the state has set the situation up the way that they have because for some reason they think that it’s safer to have food,” Flores said.

“This is an everywhere problem and it is going to be very significant. Jacksonville is going to see some craft breweries go out of business if there isn’t change soon,” added Flores. Flores says he hopes the letter sent to the governor raises awareness for an industry that really struggling during the pandemic.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor unemployment claims in Florida for the week ending July 18 saw a slight drop but overall the state is still among the worst three nationally falling behind California and Georgia.

Cox Media Group