The controversial SB106  “Whiskey and Wheaties bill” that would allow large grocery stores like Publix to sell liquor and food under the same roof has been struck down.

Florida Governor Rick Scott has vetoed the bill, saying that he had stuck down the measure because of what it could do to small business around the state.

For some 80 years, Florida law has dictated that liquor stores had to do business in a free standing buildings or “facilities.”

Publix Supermarkets opposes the measure, while Target, and Walmart, back the bill. Some of these other  chain stores like ABC Fine Wine & Spirits and other liquor retailers like 67 Wine and Spirits, are not too happy with the bill.

As legislators, we shouldn’t burden businesses with archaic regulations when they must be more innovative and forward thinking than ever to compete with the digital marketplace.-Sen. Anitere Flores

Small business groups are elated with the governor’s decision, citing that the bill would  have “decimated” independently owned small liquor store business statewide.

“This bill would have decimated small locally owned liquor stores. Though proponents claimed this was a free market bill, it was nothing more than an attempt to use the statute to corner the market on liquor.”-Tim Nungesser, National Federation of Independent Business/Florida’s Legislative

Here is Gov. Rick Scott’s veto memo.