When it comes to buying and drinking alcohol in the Beehive State, things get a little…tricky. While we’re certainly not the only state in the nation to have some strict laws regarding booze, our rules and regulations have befuddled many a tourist and frustrated many businesses and residents. Are you familiar with Utah’s liquor laws? Here are some of the laws that affect you as a consumer.
- You can’t get a drink at a restaurant or bar until 11:30 am.
makautomatik/flickr The cut-off time is 1:00 am.
- You can’t just order a drink at a restaurant.
Casey B./Yelp If an establishment is deemed a “restaurant” and not a “bar,” you must order food with your drinks.
- Utah’s legal limit is the lowest in the nation.
Terry Hamilton/flickr You’ll get a DUI if you’re blood-alcohol is .05 percent or higher in Utah. The new law goes into effect December 30, 2018. The current legal limit is .08 percent.
- The price of alcohol in Utah is regulated.
MoneyBlogNewz/flickr Yes, it’s definitely more expensive than neighboring states…Utah’s markup for liquor is 88 percent; 66.5 percent for liquor-store beer.
- You can’t bring alcohol across state lines.
Karl Baron/flickr Yes…liquor is waaay less expensive in other states. But it’s illegal to stock up in Nevada and bring your loot back home to Utah.
- You can’t join the Wine of the Month Club.
David Chao/flickr The same law that prevents you from stocking up in Wyoming or Nevada keeps you from joining the Wine of the Month Club.
- Speaking of wine…
Shelly Prevost/flickr …when you visit that amazing vineyard in another state, you can’t have them ship a case to you.
- The duty-free liquor store on the cruise ship?
Alper Çuğun/flickr Nope. Just watch in envy while your fellow passengers stock up on the bargains.
- Packaged alcohol in Utah is only sold at state liquor stores.
Patrick Berry/flickr Yes…the state of Utah has the corner on this market. You can only get 3.2% beer at other retail locations.
…which means that you won’t find any alcohol (except for some beer) at your local Utah Costco.
Mark Guim/flickr
- Utah State Liquor stores have limited hours, and are closed on Sundays and State/Federal holidays.
Jenni Konrad/flickr How do we ever drink?
- Remember beer kegs? They were banned years ago.
Ilya Yakubovich/flickr Those “keggers” in the 1980s are a thing of the past. Now, kegs are reserved only for restaurants, bars and those with special event permits.
- This is a restaurant.
Business owner/Yelp
This is a bar. In case you’re confused, we have a brand new law that requires both bars and restaurants to post special signs.
Hank B./Tripadvisor “This Premise Is Licensed As A Bar Not A Restaurant.” And, “This Premise Is Licensed As A Restaurant Not A Bar.”
Did you know about all these laws? How do they affect you? Tell us in the comments!
makautomatik/flickr
The cut-off time is 1:00 am.
Casey B./Yelp
If an establishment is deemed a “restaurant” and not a “bar,” you must order food with your drinks.
Terry Hamilton/flickr
You’ll get a DUI if you’re blood-alcohol is .05 percent or higher in Utah. The new law goes into effect December 30, 2018. The current legal limit is .08 percent.
MoneyBlogNewz/flickr
Yes, it’s definitely more expensive than neighboring states…Utah’s markup for liquor is 88 percent; 66.5 percent for liquor-store beer.
Karl Baron/flickr
Yes…liquor is waaay less expensive in other states. But it’s illegal to stock up in Nevada and bring your loot back home to Utah.
David Chao/flickr
The same law that prevents you from stocking up in Wyoming or Nevada keeps you from joining the Wine of the Month Club.
Shelly Prevost/flickr
…when you visit that amazing vineyard in another state, you can’t have them ship a case to you.
Alper Çuğun/flickr
Nope. Just watch in envy while your fellow passengers stock up on the bargains.
Patrick Berry/flickr
Yes…the state of Utah has the corner on this market. You can only get 3.2% beer at other retail locations.
Mark Guim/flickr
Jenni Konrad/flickr
How do we ever drink?
Ilya Yakubovich/flickr
Those “keggers” in the 1980s are a thing of the past. Now, kegs are reserved only for restaurants, bars and those with special event permits.
Business owner/Yelp
Hank B./Tripadvisor
“This Premise Is Licensed As A Bar Not A Restaurant.” And, “This Premise Is Licensed As A Restaurant Not A Bar.”
Some Utahns don’t consume alcohol…they eat ice cream instead (and some of us consume both!) Take a look at these 11 places in the Beehive State to get ice cream…the consumption of which is not regulated by the Utah State Legislature at all 🙂
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