Utah alcohol legislation governs the sale and purchase of alcohol in the state of Utah in the United States and is some of the most stringent in the United States. A person must be 21 years of age or older to buy or consume alcohol. The Utah Alcohol Drinks Control Department (UDABC) has arranged the sale of alcoholic beverages since 1935, two years after the end of the ban. Utah is one of 18 control states, which means the state has a monopoly on wholesale and/or retail of some or all categories of alcoholic beverages.
Utah's law currently imposes a 3.2 per cent limit on alcohol by weight (4 per cent volume) in beer sold at grocery stores and stores and in companies operating under "beer only" type licenses, such as taverns, beer bars and several restaurants. Beer is more than 3.2 percent by weight (4 percent volume) available at the country's Liquor Store and Package Agencies and in clubs and restaurants that are licensed to sell liquor. In commercial facilities, the time at which alcohol can be served is limited, and alcohol should not be sold no later than 1am in any case.
Video Alcohol laws of Utah
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), possessed by the majority of Utah people, advises against the consumption of alcohol for its members in the Word of Wisdom given in the Doctrine and Covenants. Because of the traditional LDS teaching and large Latter-day Saint population in Utah, alcohol laws in Utah are generally tight. However, several attempts to make Utah a dry country also failed, and due to the need to overcome the violence caused by bootlegging, on December 5, 1933 21 members of the Utah delegation to a constitutional convention unanimously voted 36 deciding the country to repeal the Eighteen Amendments and ratify the Twenty-First Amendment, thereby canceling the national alcohol ban.
Since 1935, Utah's liquor industry (all but 3.2% of beer) has been controlled through state-run liquor stores.
Zion blinds
Zion curtain is a unique partition to the Utah restaurant that separates the bartender restaurant from drinking the alcoholic beverage from the customer who ordered it. Partitions are only mandated for restaurants with "Limited Restaurant Service Licenses" and "Restaurant Service Licenses". These partitions are often made of frosted glass because they must be "solid, translucent, [and] permanent". They are mandated in the hope of fighting excessive drinking by keeping alcohol from the sight of restaurant customers who choose not to consume alcohol. At the Spring 2017 legislative session, Sion Curtain laws are being revoked and the terms are withdrawn from restaurants and pubs.
2002 Winter Olympics
During the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Department (UDABC) relaxed Utah alcohol law enforcement. This led to the passing of a less restrictive law in May 2003. This came after complaints, especially after an incident in which an official of the International Olympic Committee complained.
2009 attempt to reform
Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. (in the 2005-2009 office), a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the most dominant religion in the state), is a proponent of less restrictive alcohol laws during his tenure. He believes the reform will benefit the country's tourism industry. He signed a law allowing existing restaurants to delete partitions, though future restaurants will be required to prepare alcoholic beverages outside their direct protective gaze. Effective as of June 2009, bars and clubs are no longer required to charge additional fees, or membership fees, making liquor more accessible to tourists and locals alike.
Although homebrewing beer and wine has been popular for many years in Utah, with some retail outlets and even wholesalers to buy supplies, and materials, there is no law prohibiting or allowing it in the book. In March 2009, homebrewing for citizens was made legal.
Zion Curtain reform
The legislation enacted in 2010 restored the barriers as part of a broader compromise on alcohol reforms; in 2013, the Utah legislature considered a law that removes permanent barriers from all firms, even though the law has not finally passed.
Removing the Zion curtain has been a frequently asked and arguable issue that has affected Utah's politics for years. Many restaurants feel it introduces another difficulty in the state with too many alcohol restrictions, while others feel like it is a much-needed instrument to protect children and teenagers from exposure to alcohol consumption. A new bill, HB 339, is being introduced which will allow restaurant owners to abolish their Zion blinds as long as the owners set up a separate bar area that will not be accessible by anyone under the age of 21. MPs insist that walls or partitions obscure any alcoholic beverages from view helps protect children and adolescents from the glamorization of alcohol. Jim Fell, a research scientist with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, pointed out that "... no studies have been done to determine whether there is a real benefit from applying this law." Exposure to alcohol does affect teenagers who drink alcohol. , but I am afraid that multimedia, including alcohol advertising, will overwhelm every possible effect of Utah law, "Fell said." It is important to evaluate this - but it must be done by an independent and objective researcher, not someone who advocates or against the law. "
Current Utah law
The Utah Act limits supermarkets operating within the State only to sell packaging beers to 4.0% ABV (or 3.2% alcohol based on weight); alcoholic beers greater than this amount (as well as liquor and wine) can only be sold at state-controlled liquor stores. Bars, clubs, taverns and other restaurants selling alcohol at home or "on-site" (excluding restaurants) are allowed to sell alcohol from 10:00 to 1:00 am. Locations defined as restaurants according to Utah law require that meals are also ordered with alcohol to be ordered and consumed (although they do not have to be ordered at the same time), and can sell alcohol from 11:30 to 1:00.
Utah State Senator John L. Valentine introduced a bill that would allow any chain restaurant entering Utah to obtain a "master" license for all their locations, rather than having to apply for a liquor license at each individual location. This is expected to speed up the process of obtaining a liquor license otherwise, there are many locations from the same restaurant that apply for a single license every month.
On March 8, 2013, Utah's legislature passed a law allowing restaurant customers to order alcohol before ordering food after a series of controversial quotes were issued to several restaurants.
Maps Alcohol laws of Utah
Public opinion
A poll via UtahPolicy.com found 62 percent of Utah's residents favored the abolition of the requirement that new restaurants install Sion curtains to hide alcoholic beverage preparations from consumers. Thirty-one percent opposed such a change.
Economic impact
Utah grows at a modest growth rate and has unemployment below 4%, with considerable profit in the technology industry. Many new companies are located in Utah because of their friendly business practices. According to the Economic Governor's report, liquor sales have risen 7.9% in 2014, "as consumption, demographic patterns, and economic factors combined to drive sales up." "TNS Global travel research firm reported that the total number of Utah trips during the first six months of 2014 has increased by about 12 percent from 2013, with an increase of 18 percent in non-residents.Similarly, during the first three quarters of 2014, the total number of visits to Lima Utah's national parks and places have increased 10 percent from the previous year. "
Business and tourism
No cost analysis research has been done by the state of Utah to determine whether Utah's liquor law has affected Utah's business, economic growth, or tourism industry. Businesses that have chosen to expand or relocate their business in other countries seem to be mostly associated with alcohol.
Grocery store
Trader Joe's, which begins in California as a department store that starts selling wine, does not open its first store in Utah until 2012. The founder of the store, Joe Coulombe, said, "We built Trader Joe on first wine, then food." The cornerstone of selling their stores is beer, wine, and in some cases liquor. Due to Utah's hard drink laws, alcoholic beverages will not be stocked in Salt Lake City stores. Some theorized that strict liquor laws in Utah, and the inevitable impact on store margins, were responsible for the entry of Trader Joe into the Salt Lake City market.
Convention
Scott Beck, president and CEO of Visit Salt Lake, said that perception is a problem facing Utah in attracting tourism, especially conventions. His company tracks the lost business, and Beck says it's a huge amount of lost revenue. Scott said "We were told there were not enough restaurants and nightlife to keep the visitors stay outside the convention, because they can not drink.We call it nightlife, but we are not talking about nightlife in terms of strip clubs and games; nightlife like Gracie or nightlife like The Bayou - a place where visitors can network or socialize with their friends and colleagues.But our liquor laws create a taste, and in some cases the fact that you can '"I do that in Utah. And we lost 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 supporter of alcohol "normalization" in Utah, said, "From a guest service perspective, Utah's Utah billboards are really weird and make us look like we're still in a closed carriage. Utah booze makes us seem unfriendly. "He also cites examples of where out-of-towners are confused, delayed, or really angry at the policies that are in place to keep up with the law.
Restaurants
Unlike a grocery store, restaurants can apply for a license to sell and serve liquor, wine, flavored malt, and heavy beer (over 3.2%). Limited restaurant licenses may not sell flavored malt or refined drinks. And while restaurants may be able to obtain liquor licenses, they are limited to how and when they can serve alcohol. One such restriction is the law of "intent to eat"; the customer must have the intention to eat to be served alcoholic beverages. The restaurant is only able to serve liquor from 11 AM-midnight or 1AM, depending on the license, and many times the amount per glass is limited. This creates problems with customers from out of town. Fratelli Ristorante's owner, Dave Cannell, said, "People from abroad are asking for a glass of 'real' wine and I can not give them... I can only give them 5oz per glass".
Restaurant chain
The Capital Grille chain refused to come to Utah because of the law. Casual restaurants like Chili's and Applebee's have to spend extra money to reconfigure their restaurant layout to accommodate the law and hide alcohol from sight. Chris Ruth, who has a lot of out-of-town business workers who are accustomed to ordering alcohol after work, should notify their customers of a law that requires no more than 1.5 oz. alcohol is poured into any drink and that orders of food items are also required. A restaurant out of state that relies heavily on brunch income will suffer because of bleeding marys and mimosas ban before 12 pm.
Many chains are worried they will face unhealthy competition and expense when going head-to-head with the restaurant being grandized and not required to install zion curtains. Restaurants that do not have a zion curtain before May 12, 2009, are not required to build it, giving the owner with the license the "grandfather" stem structure. Any modifications to the existing structure will result in the loss of grandfathering. Hersh Ipaktchian, founder of Iggy's Sports Grill, says that faking the cost of changing the floor plan will make it harder and more expensive for him to grow. He points out that he is looking for options to expand beyond the state of Utah. The Porcupine Pub and Grille also reported intentions to expand outside the country due to Utah's tough and tough liquor laws.
Breweries
The epic beer factory opted for expansion in Colorado with a 2 to 3 million dollar facility, not in Utah due to the ever-changing liquor law in Utah. "Who knows... what will they dream in addition to punishing the industry that is paying millions of millions of taxes in this country," said David Cole.While he predicts state legislation will eventually change, "It will change much more slowly than us as a company. "
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia