Alcohol laws of Utah

[2] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to which 55% of Utah residents belong,[6] advises against the consumption of alcohol for its members[7] in the Word of Wisdom given in the Doctrine and Covenants.

[5] 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.

"[17] In 2017, another bill, HB 442, was passed that took down the requirement of the Zion Curtain in restaurants, but initially replaced it with a rule that created a minimum 10-foot distance from the location where the alcoholic drinks were prepared and tables where people under the age of 21 could be seated.

[25] 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.

[26] 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.

[29] The bill initially proposed a 4.8% ABV, but received push back from local breweries as the arbitrary limit seemed to favor the major national brands.

[33] In 1983, Utah was the first state to lower its statewide blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for operating a vehicle to 0.08% from the standard 0.10%.

[34] A 2014 poll through UtahPolicy.com found 62 percent of Utahns were in favor of removing the requirement that new restaurants install Zion curtains to hide the preparation of alcoholic beverages from consumers.

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."

Due to Utah's stringent liquor laws, alcoholic beverages initially were not 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.

[37] Scott Beck, president and CEO of Visit Salt Lake, says perception is the problem Utah has in attracting tourism, specifically conventions.

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.

[38] Unlike grocery stores, restaurants are able to apply for a license to sell and serve liquor, wine, flavored malt beverages, and heavy beer (over 4.0%).

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.

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.

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.

The Porcupine Pub and Grille also reported intent to expand outside of the state due to Utah's stringent and precarious liquor laws.