Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS THE LEGAL DRINKING AGE IN UTAH?
You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase, possess, or be provided with any alcoholic beverage. Acceptable forms of identification include: a valid passport, a valid driver's license or military identification card with a date of birth and a photo, or an official Utah identification card issued by the Utah Department of Public Safety.

WHERE CAN I BUY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN UTAH?

Where can I buy packaged alcoholic beverage products to go?
All packaged liquor, wine and full-strength beer must be purchased from a Utah state liquor store or a package agency. There are 37 state stores (including three specialty wine stores) and 93 smaller package agencies, most of which are located in Salt Lake City. Many hotels and resorts have package agencies to accommodate their guests either in the lobby or through room service. For a complete list of all store and package agency locations, click here. Beer (with 3.2% alcohol content by weight) in bottles or cans may be purchased to go at most grocery and convenience stores in Utah.

Where can I buy a cocktail, a glass of wine, or a beer in Utah?
Liquor, wine, full-strength beer, and beer (3.2% alcohol) are available by the glass at licensed restaurants and private clubs. Wine is also available by the bottle in these establishments. Beer may also be purchased in many places that have a "beer only" type license. These include taverns, beer bars, smaller restaurants or cafes, snack bars, etc.

Alcohol beverage service in a licensed restaurant requires that you order food with your drink, that your beverage be delivered to your table by your server, and that you consume your drink at or near your table. There is no "over-the-bar" or bartender-type service in restaurants.

Alcohol beverage service in a private club does not require that you order food. Full bar service and table service are both available. Persons under the age of 21 are not allowed in the lounge or bar area of a private club.

Beer service in "beer only" establishments does not require that you order food. Note, however, that persons under the age of 21 years may not be on the premises of certain "beer only" establishments such as taverns, beer bars, nightclubs, or cabarets.

What is a "private club" and how can I join one?
A "private club" is a type of liquor license in Utah that provides full alcoholic beverage service. Most are fine-dining restaurants, bars, or nightclubs with dancing and live music. Clubs may sell visitor cards (a “temporary membership” with a minimum charge of $4.00 for up to three weeks), or a full-year membership for $12.00 or more depending on the club. There is no waiting period to use either a visitor card or a full year membership.

You may access a private club by holding a visitor card, a full-year membership, or being the guest of a hosting visitor card holder or full member. Persons under the age of 21 years may not buy a visitor card or full membership. The private club can assist you with the visitor card or membership process when you are at the door.

If I purchase a visitor card or full-year membership, may I bring guests to the private club?
Yes. As a visitor cardholder (temporary member) you may host up to seven (7) guests to the private club. As a full-year member, you may host an unlimited number of guests. Either way, any guest may remain on the premises as long as they have a hosting visitor cardholder or full-year member. Although persons under 21 years of age may not buy a visitor card or full membership, they may be admitted to some private clubs if accompanied by their parents or guardians. However, state law prohibits minors on the premises of the lounge or bar area of any club or on the premises of a social drinking club (where food sales are less thatn 50% of total sales).

ARE THERE RESTRICTIONS ON CONSUMING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN PUBLIC PLACES?
Yes. State law prohibits consuming liquor in a public building, park, stadium, or on a public bus. A person may not be intoxicated in a public place to a degree as to endanger himself or another, or unreasonably disturb others. Consuming or having an open container of alcohol in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle is prohibited. Also, as a general rule, a person may not bring an alcoholic beverage onto the premises of an establishment open to the general public if it is to be consumed on the premises. There are some exceptions to these state laws.

First, you may have an open container of alcohol in the trunk of a motor vehicle so long as it is not accessible to the driver or passenger area of the vehicle.

Second, you may, with the permission of the proprietor, bring cork finished botttled wine into a licensed restaurant or private club to be served by the staff of the establishment. This exception does not apply if the establishment does not have a liquor license.

Third, you may bring alcoholic beverages and consume them in a limousine or chartered bus under certain restrictions. For example, the driver of a limousine must be separated from the passengers by a partition, and the limousine's service must begin and end at the passenger's hotel, temporary domicile, or residence. On a chartered bus, you may consume alcoholic beverages on the way to your destination and on return, only if you are dropped off at your hotel, temporary domicile, or residence at the end of the trip. If you are dropped off at a location where you will likely have to drive to get back to your hotel or home, then alcohol may not be consumed in the chartered bus on the return trip.

Note that local city, town or county laws may further restrict consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places. For example, a Park City law prohibits drinking beer or liquor, or possessing an open container of such beverages on a public street. A Salt Lake City ordinance says that no person shall open, possess, or consume an alcoholic beverage in a public place such as a street, sidewalk, alley, etc. unless a permit has been issued by the City to allow possession or consumption in the area (i.e. for a special event). These ordinances may be subject to change, so you should contact local officials for the latest updates.

WHO ENFORCES THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LAWS IN UTAH?
These laws are enforced by the state's Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and by law enforcement agencies of local jurisdictions such as:
-- Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Park City, Ogden and Provo Police Departments
-- Salt Lake, Summit, Wasatch, Weber, Utah and Morgan County Sheriff's Offices

These agencies have the authority to confiscate alcohol, issue citations, close events, and pursue criminal charges against those found to be in violation of Utah's laws.

The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (DABC) is not a law enforcement agency. It is primarily a retailer of alcohol through its state liquor stores and package agencies. It also issues licenses and permits to restaurants, private clubs, and beer establishments (other than grocery and convenience stores), and organizers of temporary events. Even though the DABC is not a police agency, it is an excellent resource if you have questions concerning Utah's alcoholic beverage laws.

MAY I BRING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES INTO UTAH ?
No. Under Utah law "alcoholic beverages" include all hard liquor, spirits, wine and beer. Beer and other malt beverage products that exceed 3.2% alcohol by weight or 4.0% by volume are considered "liquor", and beer with an alcohol content of 3.2% or less is defined as "beer".

Utah is a control state, and only the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (DABC) may lawfully have liquor products imported and shipped into Utah. Private individuals may not lawfully import or transport them into the state. Manufacturers and suppliers of these products may only supply them to the DABC. Only the DABC through its state liquor stores, package agencies, licensees and permittees may sell liquor products in Utah. Possession of liquor products not purchased from the DABC is strictly prohibited. Also, licensed restaurants and private clubs cannot allow patrons to bring wines onto the premises if they were not purchased in Utah. Other Utah laws prohibit the unlawful importation of beer products into Utah.

There are very few exceptions to these laws. A person coming from a foreign country who clears U.S. customs in Utah may possess, for personal consumption, two liter bottles of liquor purchased outside of Utah. Also, a person who moves his permanent residence to Utah or maintains separate residences both in and out of Utah, may possess for personal consumption, and not for sale or resale, liquor purchased outside of Utah. However, the person must first obtain DABC approval prior to moving to Utah; and upon the arrival of the product, the DABC will affix the Utah label to the liquor for an administrative handling fee. A person may not obtain approval from the DABC under this exception more than once. A person may possess for personal consumption, and not for sale or resale, liquor inherited as part of an estate that is located outside the state and brought it into Utah, after obtaining the approval from the DABC and paying the required administrative handling fee.

Finally, accredited foreign diplomatic missions that establish a mission presence in Utah may ship, possess and purchase alcoholic beverages under certain exceptions granted under the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations. For more information, click here.

Unless one of these exceptions applies, it is clear you may not bring alcoholic beverages into Utah for any purpose whether it be for personal consumption, to serve at your hospitality house or at a private social function, or to give or sell to others.

How will the State know that I purchased alcoholic beverages in Utah?
Each bottle purchased in Utah is affixed with a stamp evidencing its origin of purchase. It is illegal to remove the stamp from a bottle purchased in the State, or place such stamps on bottles purchased outside the State.

May our organization include alcoholic beverages in our shipping containers, and have them shipped to Utah?
No. It is illegal for anyone other than the DABC to ship alcoholic beverages into Utah. Organizers of privately hosted events hosted by accredited foreign diplomatic missions, click here.

Our organization already owns alcoholic beverages. May we bring them into Utah if we are willing to pay the additional mark-up and taxes?
No. Utah law requires that all alcoholic beverages be purchased from the state through one of its authorized outlets.

May an alcoholic beverage company that is sponsoring an organization or event , donate its alcoholic beverage products for use in Utah?
No. Utah law prohibits a member of the alcoholic beverage industry from (1) giving away any of its alcoholic products to any person; (2) serving its products as part of a promotion of its products at a private social event; (3) offering its products to the general public without charge; or (4) contributing to a civic or community event if the contribution is given to influence a retailer in the selection of alcoholic beverage products sold at the activity or event. The sponsor may donate money to your organization, and hope that you buy their products. But the sponsor cannot buy the products for your organization, or condition its donation on you buying its products.

How can I get the wines or liquor that I want to serve in Utah during an event?
Utah's state liquor and wine stores have excellent selections of wines, spirits, and full-strength beers. The DABC intends to keep the stores well-stocked during the games. However, if you want a product that DABC does not normally carry, or that is rare and somewhat difficult to obtain, you may special order it in advance, and store it until the Games. The DABC will accommodate your needs by ordering a product from any source that can legally sell it to them. The product must be available through a U.S. importer. Visit the DABC's web site at www.alcbev.state.ut.us/ for its price list of currently available products (which is updated monthly), and for the DABC's special order form.

A wide variety of beers (3.2% alcohol), including some from local micro-breweries, is available in most grocery stores in Utah.

MAY I FURNISH, SELL AND SERVE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO MY OWN GUESTS AT GROUP EVENTS? IF SO, WHAT KIND OF PERMITS WILL I NEED?

Yes. You and your guests can be accommodated several ways.

Single event permits.
If you want to sell liquor (distilled spirits, wine and full-strength beer) at your event (i.e. a "cash bar", or alcohol "included in the price of admission" situations), or your event will be open to the general public, you must obtain a state single event permit from the DABC. There are some limitations associated with these permits:

-- They need to be applied for in well in advance because the DABC Commission only issues them once a month at its regular meeting.
-- They are only available to bona fide corporations, partnerships, limited liability corporations, incorporated associations, churches, and political organizations that have been in existence for at least one year prior to the date of application. They are also available to recognized subordinate lodges, chapters, or other local units of these entities.
--Each permit is only valid for 120 consecutive hours, but each organization may have up to four permits per calendar year. This would allow your group to sell alcohol under two permits for a total of 480 consecutive hours (twenty days).
-- Each permit costs $100.00; requires you to get the written consent of the local jurisdiction where the event will be held; and that you obtain a $1000 cash or surety bond in the amount of $1000.00 for the duration of the event.

Contact the DABC for assistance in obtaining the forms to apply for a single event permit.

Temporary special event beer permits.
If you only want to sell beer at your event, you will need a state temporary special event beer permit. Temporary event permits for the sale of beer (3.2%) are issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission for on-premise consumption at a temporary event that does not last longer than 30 days. Permits are issued by the commission once a month. Application must be made by the 10th of each month.. Each permit costs $75, requires you to get the written consent of the local jurisdiction where the event will be held; and that you obtain a $500 cash or surety bond in the amount of $500.00 for the duration of the event.

Contact the DABC for assistance in obtaining the forms to apply for a temporary special event beer permit. This permit is in addition to any that are required by a city, town, or county in which the event is held.

Privately hosted events. If you do not charge your guests for the alcoholic beverages and do not charge for admission to an event where alcohol is provided (i.e. a "hosted bar"), and your event is not open to the general public, then you will not need a permit from the DABC or from a local jurisdiction to serve liquor and beer at your event. State law requires no permit for a "privately hosted event or private social function" which is defined as:

"A specific social, business, or recreational event for which an entire room, area, or hall has been leased or rented, in advance by an identified group, and the event or function is limited in attendance to people who have been specifically designated and their guests." [It] does not include events or functions to which the general public is invited, whether for an admission fee or not."

Group events in restaurants or private clubs. If you hold your event on the premises of a licensed restaurant or private club, you have the choice of having the establishment serve your guests alcohol under the restaurant's or club's own license from their own alcoholic beverage inventory. Of course, all of the laws relating to alcoholic beverage service in restaurants and clubs would apply. Or, you could choose to lease or rent all or a portion of the restaurant or club for the night, and then sell liquor and beer you have separately purchased for your group under a single event permit and temporary beer permit. Or you could furnish your alcohol to your guests without charge under the "privately hosted event" or social function exception. Either way, the restaurant or private club will likely charge your group a "set-up" or "corkage fee" for each bottle of alcohol opened on its premises.

Group events in unlicensed locations. If you lease space at a location that has no alcoholic beverage license, you must either obtain a single event permit and temporary beer permit to sell alcohol to your group, or conduct the event under the "privately hosted event" exception and furnish the alcohol to your private guests without charge.

If I rent a building under the name of my organization, or my own name, for use as a hospitality house or center, may I serve alcoholic beverages?
Yes. Again, you may sell liquor and beer under a single event permit issued by the state DABC (for up to ten days), or beer under a temporary special event beer permit issued by the local jurisdiction. Or you may furnish alcoholic beverages without charge to you private guests without a permit.

May we operate our hospitality house or center without a permit under the "privately hosted event" exception if we have a limited guest list, but the house or center is open for the entire day, and our guests may come and go as they please?
Yes, as long as admission is limited to those on your guest list and their guests, and the house or center is not open to the general public.

Can our organization host an event at a private residence without a permit?
Yes, if you comply with the requirements of the "privately hosted event" exception.

If I serve alcoholic beverages under the "privately hosted event" exception, does Utah impose any restrictions on the hours of serving alcoholic beverages?
The State of Utah doe not impose any limitation on when alcoholic beverages may be served at privately hosted events. However, local ordinances may restrict noise levels, etc. after certain hours.

If our group hires a caterer to provide all food and beverages, may we have them obtain the permits and purchase the alcohol for us?
No. If you choose to sell alcoholic beverages under a single event permit or beer under a temporary beer permit, your organization is responsible for getting your own permit(s). A caterer may assist you in getting the permit, but the caterer may not hold the permit in its own name. Also, caterers in Utah are not licensed or authorized to sell or resell alcoholic beverages.

However, a caterer may purchase alcoholic beverages as your group's agent with monies advanced to them by the group. However, certain on-premise caterers at hotels, resorts, convention centers, or sports arenas may hold an on-premise banquet and catering license. If so, alcohol may be provided for contracted banquets under the manner of service of a cash bar, hosted bar or at a meal function (such as a dinner) where the drinks may be paid for by your guests or you may run a tab for the entire group, and pay for the alcoholic beverages at the end of the function.

MAY I PURCHASE BEER IN KEGS SO THAT I CAN SERVE BEER ON DRAFT, RATHER THAN IN BOTTLES OR CANS?
Utah has a keg beer law, that prohibits anyone other than a licensed beer retailer from possessing beer (3.2%) in containers larger than two liters. Thus, if you want to serve beer on draft, you will have to obtain a temporary beer permit from the local government entity where you plan to sell and serve the beer. Once you obtain the permit, you may purchase beer in kegs from a local Utah beer wholesaler.

Utah law limits the sale of full strength (heavy) beer to bottles and cans not exceeding one (1) liter. Thus, the State does not stock or sell heavy beer in kegs, and full strength beer may not be dispensed on draft. (Accredited foreign diplomatic missions may possess and dispense their own heavy beer from kegs under certain restrictions. Click here for more information.