Alcohol Display Laws In Utah: What Restaurants Need To Know

Utah has some of the most restrictive alcohol laws in the United States. Alcoholic beverages must be ordered with food in licensed restaurants and must be served by licensed employees. Alcoholic drinks must also be served in conjunction with a purchased food order. In 2017, the Zion Curtain laws were reformed, which mandated partitions in restaurants to separate bartenders preparing alcoholic drinks from customers. While Utah's liquor laws have been modernised in recent years, the state continues to have unique regulations surrounding the sale and consumption of alcohol.

Alcohol display laws in Utah restaurants

Alcohol laws in Utah are some of the most restrictive in the United States. The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (UDABS) has regulated the sale of alcoholic beverages since 1935, two years after the end of Prohibition.

Utah is one of seventeen 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 5% alcohol 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 5% ABV is available in State Liquor Stores and Package Agencies, and at clubs.

Liquor, wine, and beer are available at licensed restaurants and bars seven days a week. Alcoholic beverage service in a licensed restaurant requires that food be ordered with your drink, and that it be delivered by an authorized, licensed employee. This is often a point of interest and/or dismay for tourists, but it isn’t as much of a hassle as you’d think — a plate of fries for the table will do just fine. Taverns, breweries, and bars are allowed to sell alcohol during the same hours as restaurants (11:30 a.m. - 1 a.m.), but do not require patrons to order food. Restaurants with a Full Service License may serve alcoholic beverages, beer, wine, liquor, and spirits from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 a.m.

In 2017, a bill, HB 442, was passed that removed the "Dining Club license" that allowed restaurants with the license to serve alcohol without the "intent to dine" clause used in the standard restaurant liquor license. The bill also initially replaced the "Zion Curtain" 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. The Zion Curtain was a nickname for partitions unique to Utah restaurants that separate restaurant bartenders preparing alcoholic drinks from the customers who order them. The partitions are 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". The Zion Curtain was a contentious issue in Utah politics for years, with many restaurants feeling it introduced 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.

Other laws regarding alcohol in Utah include the fact that only Utah residents with special permits can deliver alcohol to other Utah residents, and that people who work in restaurants, clubs, or bars must finish an alcohol-serving training program within 30 days of starting work, and they have to do it again every three years to keep their certificate valid. Utah also has some of the strictest drunk driving laws in the country, with a blood alcohol content limit of 0.05 percent.

Alcohol purchase and consumption age restrictions

Alcohol laws in Utah are some of the most restrictive in the United States. The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (UDABS) has regulated the sale of alcoholic beverages since 1935, two years after the end of Prohibition.

A person must be 21 years old or older to buy or consume alcohol in Utah. This rule applies to taverns, private clubs, restaurants, and everywhere else. A person must be 21 or older to enter a tavern or a bar, and all adults should be prepared to show ID.

In restaurants, alcoholic drinks must be served in conjunction with a purchased food order. Complimentary items such as bread or pretzels are not enough. However, a plate of fries for the table will do. Restaurants with "Limited-Service Restaurant Licenses" and "Full-Service Restaurant Licenses" are mandated to have partitions, often made of frosted glass, to separate restaurant bartenders preparing alcoholic drinks from customers who order them. These partitions are known as "Zion curtains".

The "Zion Curtain" laws were reformed in 2017. A new bill, HB 339, was 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. Another bill, HB 442, was passed in 2017 that removed the Zion Curtain requirement 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.

Utah is one of seventeen 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 4.0 percent alcohol by weight (5% ABV) 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 4.0 percent by weight (5% ABV) is available in State Liquor Stores and Package Agencies and at clubs and restaurants licensed to sell liquor.

Alcohol license requirements for restaurants

Alcohol laws in Utah are some of the most restrictive in the United States. The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (UDABS) has regulated the sale of alcoholic beverages since 1935, two years after the end of Prohibition.

The state has imposed strict rules on serving and selling alcohol, requiring those working in the industry to obtain alcohol certification to operate. According to the law, all servers of alcoholic beverages in restaurants, bars, and taverns must complete alcohol training within 30 days of starting work. Managers, bartenders, servers, and barbacks are among those who serve alcohol to customers in a restaurant. A manager in a licensed retail business should participate in a manager training program in addition to alcohol training.

There are different types of licenses available for restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, including "beer only" type licenses, "Limited-Service Restaurant Licenses", and "Full-Service Restaurant Licenses". Beer, liquor, and wine can be ordered in a restaurant from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., but they must be ordered with food. Taverns, breweries, and bars are allowed to sell alcohol during the same hours as restaurants, but do not require patrons to order food.

In Utah, people who serve alcohol should get training from a company approved by the state. The Utah Alcohol Certification (On-Premise Server) training program is designed to prepare alcohol servers to enter the workforce by providing the required alcohol server information as specified by Utah regulations. The course covers on-premise alcohol serving in the state of Utah and is approved by the Utah Division of Substance Abuse & Mental Health. It is 180 minutes long and can be taken online.

Alcohol beverage limits per customer

Utah's liquor laws are some of the most restrictive in the United States. The state has a monopoly over the wholesaling and retailing of some or all categories of alcoholic beverages. The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (UDABS) has regulated the sale of alcoholic beverages since 1935, two years after the end of Prohibition.

To buy, sell, or serve alcohol in Utah, you must have a Utah Alcoholic Beverage Permit. Some businesses in the state are allowed to sell alcoholic drinks, so you have to decide if you want to open a store or a restaurant. You must also select between a package store license and an off-premise license. To get a liquor license in Utah, you must follow the rules about where you can open, what you can sell, when you can sell it, how long you can be open, and how secure you have to be. If you break the law, you risk losing your liquor license and facing fines and penalties.

Utah law sets a limit of 4.0 percent alcohol by weight (5% ABV) 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 4.0 percent by weight (5% ABV) is available in State Liquor Stores and Package Agencies and at clubs and restaurants licensed to sell liquor.

In a licensed restaurant, you can only order one alcoholic drink per customer, and it must be accompanied by a food order. The food must be a purchased menu item, and complimentary items such as chips, bread, pretzels, and popcorn are not sufficient. Alcoholic beverages must be ordered and served by licensed employees in licensed restaurants.

Utah has strict laws regarding drunk driving, with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.05%, the lowest in the country. The state also has a "zero tolerance" policy for underage drinking, and anyone under 21 cannot enter an establishment licensed as a bar.

Drunk driving laws in Utah

While there is no explicit information on whether it is illegal for restaurants to display alcohol in Utah, the state has strict laws regulating the sale and consumption of alcohol.

Utah has strict laws regarding drunk driving, officially termed ''Driving Under the Influence (DUI)'. The state has a zero-tolerance approach to impaired driving, with law enforcement officers authorized to identify and arrest individuals suspected of alcohol or drug impairment.

In March 2017, Utah lowered the DUI limit from 0.08% to 0.05% blood alcohol content (BAC), which came into effect on December 30, 2018. This means that a person can be arrested for DUI even if they are not actively driving, as long as they are in possession of the car keys or are in the driver's seat. The penalties for a first DUI offense in Utah include a mandatory two-day jail term or 48 hours of community service.

To enforce the new BAC law, law enforcement agencies across the state underwent Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) refresher training. The Utah Department of Public Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will conduct a comprehensive analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of the new BAC law in reducing drunk driving and saving lives.

Alcohol Display and Service Laws in Utah

Utah has unique and restrictive alcohol laws that regulate the selling, purchasing, and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Here are some key points regarding alcohol display and service in restaurants:

• Alcoholic drinks in restaurants must be served in conjunction with a purchased food order. Complimentary items such as chips or bread do not count towards this requirement.
• Restaurants with specific licenses, such as "Limited-Service Restaurant Licenses" or "Full-Service Restaurant Licenses", are required to have "Zion Curtains." These are partitions, often made of frosted glass, that separate bartenders preparing alcoholic drinks from customers.
• In 2017, the Zion Curtain laws were reformed, and a new bill, HB 339, was introduced. It allowed restaurant owners to abolish Zion curtains if they established a separate bar area inaccessible to patrons under 21.
• Another bill, HB 442, passed in 2017, removed the Zion Curtain requirement but created a minimum 10-foot distance between the bar where alcoholic drinks were prepared and tables where minors could be seated.
• The "Dining Club license," which allowed restaurants to serve alcohol without the "intent to dine" clause, was also removed as part of HB 442. Restaurants had to choose to operate either as a restaurant or a bar by July 1, 2018.
• Utah law sets a limit on beer sold in grocery stores, convenience stores, and specific licensed establishments like taverns and beer bars. The alcohol by volume percentage was increased from 4% to 5% in 2019, allowing for a wider variety of beers.
• Liquor and wine are exclusively sold at state liquor stores, and restaurants with full bar services usually have a liquor license.

These laws reflect Utah's unique approach to regulating alcohol and aim to balance the interests of the hospitality industry with public health and safety concerns, especially regarding underage exposure to alcohol.

Frequently asked questions