Utah · UT · Food & drink
Utah: Where can you buy liquor?
Government-run stores
Utah sells liquor in state-run stores staffed by state employees, plus contract package agencies in smaller towns and resorts.
The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services runs state liquor stores, and state law caps their number at one per 48,000 residents. Package agencies fill in where there is no state store, often in small towns, hotels and resorts. Supermarkets and convenience stores may sell packaged beer; liquor and wine are sold at state stores and package agencies.
What the law says
The commission may establish state stores in the numbers and at places, owned or leased by the department, that the commission considers proper for the sale of liquor by employees of the state, in accordance with this title and the rules made under this title.
Sources
- Utah Code § 32B-2-501 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
- Utah DABS: Residents and Visitors Official · abs.utah.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services
- Phone
- (801) 977-6800
- Website
- abs.utah.gov
How bordering states compare
- Arizona Private licensed storesArizona licenses private liquor stores to sell spirits for off-premises drinking; the state runs no liquor stores.
- Colorado Private licensed storesColorado licenses private retail liquor stores to sell spirits in sealed containers; the state does not buy or sell liquor.
- Idaho Government-run storesIdaho sells liquor only through state-run liquor stores and state-authorized contract stores supplied by the Idaho State Liquor Division.
- Nevada Private licensed storesNevada liquor is sold by privately owned licensed retailers, which must buy from state-licensed private wholesalers.
- New Mexico Private licensed storesNew Mexico liquor is sold by privately owned businesses holding state liquor licenses, including package stores, grocery stores and convenience stores.
- Wyoming State wholesale, private storesWyoming's Liquor Division is the only liquor wholesaler, but private businesses with local retail licenses sell liquor to the public.