Florida Statute 562.51 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXXIV
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO

Chapter 562
BEVERAGE LAW: ENFORCEMENT

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F.S. 562.51

562.51 Retail alcoholic beverage establishments; rights as private enterprise.—A licensed retail alcoholic beverage establishment open to the public is a private enterprise and:

(1) May refuse service to any person who is objectionable or undesirable to the licensee, but such refusal of service shall not be on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, or physical handicap.

(2)(a) May not refuse service to any person solely because the person is not purchasing alcoholic beverages if that person is the designated driver for one or more persons who are purchasing alcoholic beverages at the establishment.

(b) This subsection does not excuse a retail alcoholic beverage establishment from complying with any applicable municipal or county ordinance regulating the presence of persons under 21 years of age on the premises of any such establishment.

History.—s. 4, ch. 85-285; s. 1, ch. 2007-135.

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Amendments to 562.51

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 562.51

Total Results: 7

Ranger Ins. Co. v. Bal Harbour Club

549 So. 2d 1005, 14 Fla. L. Weekly 416, 1989 Fla. LEXIS 814, 1989 WL 101534

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Aug 31, 1989 | Docket: 2483737

Cited 34 times | Published

lodging and restaurants); § 513.118 (in RV parks); § 562.51 (in bars); § 641.3102 (in HMOs); chapter 760 (in

Bankston v. Brennan

507 So. 2d 1385, 55 U.S.L.W. 2679

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: May 21, 1987 | Docket: 459954

Cited 34 times | Published

act relating to the Beverage Law," creating section 562.51, which evidences the fact that the legislature

Ellis v. NGN of Tampa, Inc.

586 So. 2d 1042, 16 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 619, 1991 Fla. LEXIS 1625, 1991 WL 183088

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 19, 1991 | Docket: 1488073

Cited 13 times | Published

alcoholic beverages, the legislature enacted section 562.51, now section 768.125, Florida Statutes (1989)

Bardy v. WALT DISNEY WORLD COMPANY

643 So. 2d 46, 1994 Fla. App. LEXIS 9155, 19 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. D 2016

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 23, 1994 | Docket: 1493219

Cited 8 times | Published

invitee's death. Section 768.125 (formerly section 562.51) became effective on May 23, 1980. See Ch.

Publix Supermarkets, Inc. v. Austin

658 So. 2d 1064, 1995 WL 385375

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 30, 1995 | Docket: 439441

Cited 6 times | Published

Legislature intervened in 1980 and enacted section 562.51, now codified as section 768.125, effectively

Ellis v. NGN of Tampa, Inc.

561 So. 2d 1209, 1990 WL 48621

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 18, 1990 | Docket: 1480839

Cited 5 times | Published

125 was enacted, the legislature numbered it section 562.51, placing it directly after section 562.50.

Luque v. Ale House Management, Inc.

962 So. 2d 1062, 2007 WL 2403171

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 24, 2007 | Docket: 1519135

Published

Legislature intervened in 1980 and enacted section 562.51," which is now codified in section 768.125