Utah Liquor Laws: 3.2 to 4.8 % ABV : A conversation with Senator Jerry Stevenson

Utah liquor laws are considered some of the wackiest in the country. Namely, the new DIU Limit for blood alcohol content level is 0.05 percent, the lowest in the country. Additionally, our allowable alcohol content in beer sold in supermarket is 3.2. Consequently, Utah is now losing most national breweries beers in the grocery stores…

Richard Markosian

March 13, 2019

Listen to our conversation with Senator Jerry Stevenson regarding Utah liquor laws.

Utah Liquor Laws

Utah liquor laws are considered some of the wackiest in the country. Namely, the new DIU Limit for blood alcohol content level is 0.05 percent, the lowest in the country. In addition, our allowable alcohol content in beer sold in supermarket is 3.2. Consequently, Utah is now losing most national breweries beers in the grocery stores because all other states now allow higher percentages in excess of 4.0% by volume.

Senator Jerry Stevenson is now the liquor czar in the Utah State Senate and he is attempting to change this.

Senator Jerry Stevenson wants to pass a law that will allow grocery stores to sell beer with alcohol percentages up to 4.6%. This would dramatically change the liquor landscape in Utah. Currently all beer with alcohol percentages above 3.2% must be sold in state-operated liquor stores. Passing this law would free up valuable shelf space from liquor stores. Why? Because, most beer will be sold in supermarkets freeing the space in liquor stores for local wineries and distilleries.

In this episode of Utah Stories podcast we are talking to Senator Jerry Stevenson trying to understand the logic behind this proposed law change.

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Richard Markosian

I am a story teller and journalist. I have a passion for farmers, local craftspeople, and folks who aspire to create, build and grow their business in the local marketplace. Why local? By supporting locally-owned businesses we create more opportunity for entrepreneurs, and we claim our sovereignty to shape our communities how we want to see them. I aspire to build Utah Stories Magazine into a household Utah name, and assist Utah businesses and makers with marketing. On the journalism side of things my passion is investigative journalism that offers true insight into issues. I believe strongly in the forth estate: strong, meaningful, insightful journalism is essential to a free market Democracy.