Alcohol laws of Utah - wikipedia Alcohol laws of Utah Location of Utah The alcohol laws of Utah regulate the selling and purchasing of alcohol in the United States state of Utah and are some of the most restrictive in the United States. A person must be 21 years old or older to buy or consume alcohol. The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control ( UDABC ) has regulated the sale of alcoholic beverages since 1935, two years after the end of Prohibition. Utah is one of 18 control states, meaning the state has a monopoly over the wholesaling and / or retailing of some or all categories of alcoholic beverages. Current Utah law sets a limit of 3.2 percent alcohol by weight ( 4 percent by volume ) in beer sold at grocery and convenience stores and at establishments operating under a `` beer only '' type license, such as taverns, beer bars and some restaurants. Beer over 3.2 percent by weight ( 4 percent by volume ) is available in State Liquor Stores and Package Agencies and at clubs and restaurants licensed to sell liquor. In commercial facilities, the time at which alcohol may be served is limited, and alcohol may not be sold any later than 1 am under any circumstance. Contents 1 Background 1.1 Zion curtains 1.2 2002 Winter Olympic Games 1.3 2009 efforts for reform 1.4 Zion Curtain reform 1.5 Current Utah laws 2 Public opinion 3 Economic impact 3.1 Business and tourism 3.2 Grocery stores 3.3 Conventions 3.4 Restaurants 3.4. 1 Chain restaurants 3.5 Breweries 4 References Background See also : Word of Wisdom The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints ( Mormon ), to which a majority of Utahns belong, advises against the consumption of alcohol for its members in the Word of Wisdom given in the Doctrine and Covenants. Because of this traditional LDS teaching and the large population of Latter - day Saints in Utah, the alcohol laws of Utah have generally been strict. However, several attempts to make Utah a dry state also failed, and due to a need to address violence caused by bootlegging, on December 5, 1933 the 21 members of the Utah delegation to the constitutional convention unanimously cast the 36th deciding state vote to repeal the Eighteenth Amendment and ratify the Twenty - first Amendment, thus repealing national alcohol prohibition. Since 1935, Utah 's liquor industry ( all except 3.2 % beer ) has been controlled through state - run liquor store outlets. Zion curtains Zion curtains are partitions unique to Utah restaurants that separate restaurant bartenders preparing alcoholic drinks from the customers who order them. The partitions are only mandated for restaurants with `` Limited - Service Restaurant Licenses '' and `` Full - Service Restaurant Licenses ''. These partitions are often made of frosted glass since they are required to be `` solid, translucent, ( and ) permanent ''. They were mandated in hopes of combating excessive drinking by keeping alcohol out of sight of restaurant patrons who choose not to consume alcohol. As of the Spring 2017 legislative session the Zion Curtain laws are being revoked and the requirement is being withdrawn from restaurants and pubs. 2002 Winter Olympic Games See also : 2002 Winter Olympic Games During the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control ( UDABC ) relaxed enforcement of Utah 's alcohol laws. This led to the passing of less restrictive laws effected in May 2003. This came after complaints, particularly after an incident in which an International Olympic Committee official complained. 2009 efforts for reform Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. ( in office 2005 -- 2009 ), a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints ( the predominant religion in the state ), was a proponent for less restrictive alcohol laws during his time in office. He believed reform would be favorable to the state 's tourism industry. He signed legislation allowing existing restaurants to remove the partitions, although future restaurants would be required to prepare alcoholic drinks outside of their patron 's immediate view. Effective in June 2009, bars and clubs were no longer required to charge a cover, or a membership fee, making liquor more accessible to tourists and locals. Even though homebrewing of beer and wine had been popular for many years in Utah, with multiple retail and even wholesale outlets for purchasing supplies, and ingredients, there was no law forbidding it or allowing it on the books. In March 2009, homebrewing for the citizens of the state was made legal. Zion curtain reform Legislation enacted in 2010 restored the barriers as part of a broader compromise on alcohol reform ; in 2013, the Utah legislature considered legislation removing the barriers permanently from all establishments, although the legislation ultimately did not pass. Abolishing the Zion curtains has been an often proposed and contentious issue affecting Utah politics for years. Many restaurants feel it introduces one more hardship in a state with too many alcohol restrictions, while others feel like it is a much - needed instrument to protect children and teens from exposure to alcohol consumption. A new bill, HB 339, is being introduced that would allow restaurant owners to abolish their Zion curtain provided the owners established a separate bar area that would not be accessible to anyone under the age of 21. Lawmakers insist that a wall or partition obscuring any alcoholic beverages from view helps to shield children and teens from the glamorization of alcohol. Jim Fell, a research scientist with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, points out that ``... no research has been conducted to establish whether there is any actual benefit to this law 's implementation. Exposure to alcohol does have an effect on teen drinking, but I worry that the multimedia, including alcohol advertising, would overwhelm any effects that the Utah law might have, '' said Fell. `` It 's important to evaluate this -- but it would have to be done by an independent, objective researcher, not someone who is an advocate or who opposes the law. '' Current Utah laws Utah laws restrict supermarkets operating within the State to only sell packaged beer up to 4.0 % ABV ( or 3.2 % alcohol by weight ) ; beer containing alcohol greater than this amount ( as well as Liquor and wine ) can only be sold at state - controlled liquor stores. Bars, clubs, taverns, and other establishments selling in - house or `` on premise '' alcohol ( excluding restaurants ) are allowed to sell alcohol from 10 : 00am -- 1 : 00am. Locations defined as a restaurant under Utah law require that food also be ordered with any alcohol that is to be ordered and consumed ( though they do not have to be ordered at the same time ), and can sell alcohol from 11 : 30am - 1 : 00am. Utah State Senator John L. Valentine is introducing a bill that will allow each chain restaurant that enters Utah to obtain a `` master '' license for all of their locations, instead of having to apply for a liquor license at each individual location. This is hoped to speed up the process of obtaining liquor licenses when otherwise there are many locations of the same restaurant applying for a single license every month. On March 8, 2013, the Utah legislature passed a law allowing restaurant patrons to order alcohol before ordering food after a controversial series of citations was issued to several restaurants. Public opinion A poll through UtahPolicy.com found 62 percent of Utahns are in favor of removing the requirement that new restaurants install Zion curtains to hide the preparation of alcoholic beverages from consumers. Thirty - one percent oppose such a change. Economic impact Utah is growing at a moderate growth rate and has unemployment below 4 %, with fairly large gains in the tech industry. Many new companies have located in Utah due to their friendly business practices. According to the Governor 's Economic report, liquor sales have risen 7.9 % in 2014, `` as consumption, demographic patterns, and economic factors combined to push sales up ''. `` Travel research firm TNS Global, reported total Utah person trips during the first six months of 2014 had increased an estimated 12 percent from 2013, with an 18 percent increase in nonresident visitors. Similarly, during the first three quarters of 2014, total visits to Utah 's five national parks and places had increased 10 percent from the previous year. '' Business and tourism No cost analysis research has been done by the state of Utah to determine if Utah 's liquor laws have affected Utah 's business, economic growth, or tourism industry. Businesses who have chosen to expand or relocate their businesses in other states appear to be mostly alcohol related. Grocery stores Trader Joe 's, which began in California as a convenience store that started selling wine, did not open its first store in Utah until 2012. The store 's founder, Joe Coulombe, said, `` We built Trader Joe 's on wine first, then food. '' A cornerstone of their store 's sales are beer, wine, and in some cases liquor. Due to Utah 's stringent liquor laws, alcoholic beverages will not be stocked in the Salt Lake City store. Some theorize that Utah 's strict liquor laws, and the inevitable impact on the store 's margin, was responsible for Trader Joe 's late entry into the Salt Lake City market. Conventions Scott Beck, president and CEO of Visit Salt Lake, says perception is the problem Utah has in attracting tourism, specifically conventions. His company tracks business that is lost, and Beck says it is a considerable amount of lost revenue. Scott says `` We are told there are not enough restaurants and nightlife to keep the visitors occupied outside of the convention, because they ca n't get a drink. We call it nightlife, but we 're not talking about nightlife in terms of strip clubs and gaming ; we 're talking about nightlife like Gracie 's or nightlife like The Bayou -- places where visitors can network or socialize with their friends and peers. But our liquor laws create a sense, and in some cases a reality, that you ca n't do that in Utah. And we lose hundreds of millions of dollars a year in delegate spending because of that perception. '' Bruce Fery, CEO of The Grand America Hotel and Resorts and also a proponent of alcohol `` normalization '' in Utah, said, `` From a guest service perspective, Utah 's liquor laws are really awkward and make us look like we are still in covered wagons. Utah 's liquor laws make us appear to be inhospitable. '' He also cites many instances where out - of - towners were befuddled, put off, or downright angry at the policies that are in place to keep in accordance of the law. Restaurants Unlike grocery stores, restaurants are able to apply for a license to sell and serve liquor, wine, flavored malt beverages, and heavy beer ( over 3.2 % ). Limited restaurant licenses may not sell flavored malt beverages or distilled spirits. And while the restaurant may be able to obtain a liquor license, they are restricted to how and when they are able to serve alcohol. One such restriction is the `` intent to dine '' law ; customers must have the intent to dine in order to be served an alcoholic beverage. Restaurants are only able to serve liquor from 11AM - midnight or 1AM, depending on the license, and many times the amount per glass is restricted. This creates problems with customers from out of town. Co-owner of Fratelli Ristorante, Dave Cannell, said, `` People from out of state ask for a ' real ' glass of wine and I ca n't give them one... I can only give them 5oz per glass ''. Chain restaurants The chain Capital Grille refuses to come to Utah due to the laws. Casual restaurants like Chili 's and Applebee 's have had to spend extra money on reconfiguring their restaurants ' layouts in order to accommodate the laws and hide alcohol from view. Ruth 's Chris, which has a large contingent of out - of - town businesspeople who are used to ordering alcoholic drinks after work, have to inform their patrons of laws requiring that no more than 1.5 oz. of alcohol be poured into any drink and that an order of a food item is also required. Out - of - state restaurants that rely heavily on brunch revenue would suffer due to the ban on bloody marys and mimosas before 12 p.m. Many chains fear they would face unfair competition and costs when going head - to - head with restaurants that are grandfathered in and not required to have the zion curtain installed. Restaurants that did not have zion curtains before May 12, 2009, are not required to build them, giving owners with those licenses a `` grandfathered '' bar structure. Any modification to the existing structure would result in the loss of the grandfathering. Hersh Ipaktchian, founder of Iggy 's Sports Grill, says that factoring in costs to change floor plans would make it difficult and more expensive for him to expand. He indicated that he is looking for options to expand outside of the state of Utah. The Porcupine Pub and Grille also reported intent to expand outside of the state due to Utah 's stringent and precarious liquor laws. Breweries Epic brewery chose to expand in Colorado with a 2 to 3 million dollar facility instead of Utah due to Utah 's constantly changing liquor laws. `` `` Who knows... what things they 'll dream up next to punish an industry that pays millions of millions of taxes in this state, '' David Cole said. While he predicts state laws will eventually change, `` It 's going to change a lot slower than we are as a company. '' References Jump up ^ Hampson, Rick ( September 21, 2011 ). `` Stiff penalites for stiff drinks : Utah tightens liquor laws ''. USA Today. Retrieved August 9, 2012. ^ Jump up to : Liquor Laws Affecting Residents and Visitors Archived February 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine... Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Accessed February 2, 2009. Jump up ^ About DABC. Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Accessed February 2, 2009. Jump up ^ Lythgoe, Dennis ( March 21 -- 22, 1991 ). `` Confused about Utah 's liquor laws ? Here 's a timely explanation ''. Deseret News. Retrieved February 7, 2009. ^ Jump up to : Chang, Vanessa ( January 25, 2009 ). `` Brew Pubs Gain an Unlikely Following in Utah ''. NYT. Retrieved February 2, 2009. Jump up ^ Associated Press ( November 20, 2008 ). `` Records : Percentage of Mormons in Utah declines ''. AZ Central. Retrieved July 25, 2010. Jump up ^ Hinckley, Gordon B. `` The Body Is Sacred ''. New Era ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - Day Saints ), November 2006, pp. 2 -- 5. Accessed February 10, 2009. Jump up ^ `` The Doctrine and Covenants : Section 89 ''. Jump up ^ `` UTAH 'S 1933 CONVENTION SEALED PROHIBITION 'S DOOM ''. Deseretnews.com. June 20, 1995. Retrieved December 12, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Utah Liquor Laws - A Brief History ''. Cityhomecollective.com. December 23, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Alcoholic Beverage Control Act ''. le.utah.gov. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, Specific Retail License Act, Limited - Service Restaurant License ''. le.utah.gov. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 09. ^ Jump up to : House, Dawn ( February 27, 2013 ). `` Bill could tear down Zion curtains at restaurants ''. The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved February 27, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Bill that amends Utah 's laws on alcohol beverage service, sale passes House committee ''. Ksl.com. Retrieved December 12, 2017. Jump up ^ Kerig, Bill ( October 29, 2003 ). `` What 's up with Utah 's liquor laws ? ''. USA Today. Retrieved February 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Olympics Dry As A Bone. CBS News. Accessed February 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Bernick Jr., Bob ; Lisa Riley Roche ( February 1, 2009 ). `` Hughes charging into the fray for Huntsman liquor bill ''. Deseret News. Retrieved February 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Pyrah, Joe ( January 25, 2009 ). `` Taxes, liquor laws on the docket for 2009 Legislature ''. Daily Herald. Retrieved February 10, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Utah Lowers the ' Zion Curtain ' ''. The Food Channel. May 2009. Retrieved June 1, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Utah legalizes homebrewing ''. Wikinews. March 29, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2009. Jump up ^ Hesterman, Billy ( March 13, 2013 ). `` Zion Curtain stays, master liquor license created under new bill ''. Daily Herald. Retrieved March 13, 2013. Jump up ^ Davidson, Lee. `` Bill again seeks to tear down Utah liquor laws, Zion curtain ''. Salt lake Tribune. Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 20 April 2015. Jump up ^ House, Dawn. `` No research exists on effectiveness of Utah 's Zion curtain ''. Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 15 April 2015. ^ Jump up to : Parsons, TJ. `` State Liquor Laws - Terminology, Availability, and Tips ''. visitsaltlake.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018. Jump up ^ Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. `` Licensee Handbook Restaurant - Full service '' ( PDF ). ABC Utah. Retrieved 23 April 2015. Jump up ^ `` Utah Dept of Alcoholic Beverage Control ''. abc.utah.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Utah diners may sip alcohol before ordering food. Davidson, Lee. Salt Lake Tribune. 8 Mar 2013. Jump up ^ Imbibing up big in Utah, which may mean more liquor licenses. House, Dawn. Salt Lake Tribune. 1 Nov 2012. Accessed 7 Nov 2012. Jump up ^ Schott, Brian. `` Exclusive Poll : 62 % of Utahns Want to Get Rid of the ' Zion Curtain ' ''. UtahPolicy.com. UtahWebStuff.com. Retrieved 11 November 2014. Jump up ^ PREPARED BY THE UTAH ECONOMIC COUNCIL. `` Economic Report to the Governor '' ( PDF ). UTAH ECONOMIC COUNCIL. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2015 - 01 - 12. Jump up ^ Horiuchi, Vince. `` Trader Joe 's grocery to open in Utah ; no Two Buck Chuck ''. Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 25 April 2015. Jump up ^ Webb, Gaylen. `` Utah 's Alcohol Problem Do the State 's Byzantine Laws Stifle Economic Development ? ''. Utah Business. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` Liquor Laws Affecting Residents & Visitors ''. Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Retrieved 4 May 2015. Jump up ^ Heather, May. `` Utah politics lead to ' unsacred ' act by local brewer Epic ''. Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 15 April 2015. Alcohol laws of the United States States Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Federal district Washington, D.C. Insular areas American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alcohol_laws_of_Utah&oldid=851984114 '' Categories : Alcohol law in the United States by state Utah law Utah society Bartending Food and drink in Utah Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from June 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Use mdy dates from April 2012 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April 2013 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 25 July 2018, at 21 : 03 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. 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Question: when do they start selling alcohol in utah
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