Index
Utah 'Zion Curtain' & Alcohol Laws
Summary
Utah has some of the strictest and most unusual alcohol laws in the U.S., heavily influenced by the state's religious demographics, though the infamous 'Zion Curtain' rule has been modified.
Rights & Rules
- 01.In restaurants, you MUST order food if you want to order an alcoholic drink. You cannot just go to a restaurant to drink.
- 02.In 2017, the state repealed the 'Zion Curtain' law (which required restaurants to hide the mixing of drinks behind a physical barrier), replacing it with a 'Zion Moat'—drinks can be mixed in the open, but minors must sit at least 10 feet away from the bar area.
- 03.Draft beer and beer sold in grocery/convenience stores is legally capped at 5% ABV (Alcohol by Volume).
- 04.Any beer over 5% ABV, as well as all wine and liquor, MUST be purchased from a state-owned 'State Liquor Store,' which are closed on Sundays and holidays.
Penalties
- 01.Restaurants caught serving alcohol without food, or selling to minors, face massive fines and the immediate revocation of their highly coveted and scarce state liquor licenses.
Verified Citations
Utah Code Title 32B (Alcoholic Beverage Control Act)
Source"A restaurant licensee may not sell, offer for sale, or furnish an alcoholic product except in connection with an order for food prepared, sold, and furnished at the licensed premises."