Utah Booze News

DABC commissioners don't appear to be happy with the Utah State Legislature. At Tuesday's meeting, the commission had three coveted bar licenses to award — and 15 applicants. You see, Utah hands out bar licenses by population quota. The formula — one license per 10,200 people — is a made-up number by the legislature. Commissioner Tara Thue called the lack of bar licenses "dismal," and Chair Thomas Jacobson told people in the crowd to speak up and call their legislators to fix it. On the...

Summer is almost over and it's harvest season in Utah's wine country. You read that right. Utah has wine country. On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, we talk with Doug McCombs, the owner of Instant Gratification Winery in Cedar City about Utah's vineyards and the surprisingly large number of wineries our state has. He's also hosting the Utah Wine Festival this weekend in southern Utah.Kathy Stephenson has a BIG...

Who doesn't like a Top 10 list? On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast," DABC Executive Director Tiffany Clason gives us the top 10 selling beer, wine and spirits. Plus, the DABC is officially Utah's cash cow generating $517 million in sales. COVID-19 did not hurt the state's bottom line.Subscribe to get the latest episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After eight years, John Nielsen is stepping down as chairman of the powerful Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, Nielsen reflects on his tenure and has plenty to say about the legislature, public safety, and consumer demand in Utah.We also recap the latest DABC commission where axe throwing and alcohol returns, and whether popular hard seltzers fit under...

The Salt Lake City International Airport is in Utah. But when it comes to liquor laws? It's not necessarily of Utah. On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, we venture into the sovereign nation of airport liquor laws, where 8 a.m. drink service and airlines that offer mini-bottles are A THING. We also recap the last virtual meeting of the DABC commission, an entity that has struggled throughout the COVID-19 pandemic...

Utah's DABC commission forfeited the license of Bountiful's only bar after a paperwork problem that lasted for 18 years. Meanwhile, they granted leniency to a number of bars and restaurants struggling with the impact of COVID-19, including staffing shortages and construction delays.On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, we solicited your questions about the state's liquor laws on social media. Tanner Lenart, the...

It was another month of fighting for limited licenses. The DABC commission had two of the highly-coveted bar licenses and three applicants for them, so people had to beg and plead.On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, we also talk to newly-confirmed DABC Executive Director Tiffany Clason. She details the paperwork nightmare of the agency and outlines her goals to make Utah's alcohol control authority a little more...

Three things are certain in life here in Utah: Death, taxes and a bill in the state legislature on alcohol policy.On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, we interview Rep. Timothy Hawkes, R-Centerville, who is tasked by the Republican majority with running alcohol bills. He breaks down the latest bill (and reveals the fate of ordering liquor online). We also cover the other liquor bills in the legislature, and where...

The 2021 Utah State Legislature is about to get under way, and you can expect yet another liquor bill. On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, we preview the legislative session and what bills you can expect ("to-go" cocktails, bar licenses and budget). We've got an update on Pappy Van Winkle, the highly coveted bourbon, showing up in state-run liquor stores.Plus our special guest is recently-retired DABC executive...

Big changes are coming to Utah's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.Executive director Sal Petilos retired as a new administration is moving in. Governor-elect Spencer Cox has tapped Tiffany Clason, a former staffer for Congressman Ben McAdams, to lead Utah's alcohol control agency. She has a resume that includes food and beverage industry experience in London, and political experience working for Republicans and Democrats.On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy...

It's no secret that Utah's hospitality industry has been hurting in the COVID-19 pandemic — more than 450 restaurants and bars have closed since it began in March.On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake County Council member Shireen Ghorbani talks about the efforts she and others are making to try to pressure lawmakers and Congress to act to save jobs. The website, saveutahjobs.com, talks about the toll of...

Post Malone is a Utah treasure, and now he's got a coveted wine. On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, Kathy Stephenson recaps the mad hunt for the Utah rapper's rosé, Maison No. 9. (And if you get a bottle, give us a shout to tell us how it is!)We recap another DABC commission meeting where a lot of people still haven't figured out how to mute, and they took some pretty harsh action against a restaurant chain for...

Amanda Smith had a reputation as a fair and pragmatic member of one of Utah's most powerful commissions. As a Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner, she had to weigh some tough decisions on what businesses get coveted bar licenses and which ones would close.On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, Smith talks about what it was like to make those judgment calls and what she really thinks about...

Did you know that in Utah, churches that serve sacramental wine as a part of communion are required to be licensed by the state? Utah's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has a 17-page document that churches must fill out and the pastor has to undergo a criminal background check. On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, we talk to Rev. Tyler Piel of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Taylorsville and Barb Munoz,...

Utah bars and restaurants are in danger of going under.A critical deadline looms on Aug. 31 for bar licenses to be renewed. Utah's alcohol control agency says 59 bar licenses have not yet been renewed and that could be a sign of economic trouble for the hospitality industry.Also on "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast," FOX 13's Ben Winslow and The Salt Lake Tribune's Kathy Stephenson talk to Rep. Timothy Hawkes, who is tasked by the House Republican majority with running liquor...

Utah's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has provided FOX 13 with its annual list of top selling alcohols in the state. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of so many bars and restaurants, there's been a shakeup. Beers also saw some changes because 3.2 beer went away. On "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, DABC spokesman Terry Wood goes down the list of top sellers and reveals just how many boxes of wine people are...

Utah's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control hits a significant milestone in liquor sales. The DABC has another dramatic meeting with alcohol control commissioners refusing to hand out bar licenses. Plus, the conservative city of Provo is set to allow breweries in after a citizen referendum to keep them out fails to make it on the November ballot. We talk to Provo City Council member Shannon Ellsworth about it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's no secret that bars and restaurants have been struggling during COVID-19. With new health directives that include fewer people, face coverings and other things, many are struggling just to stay afloat. In a post on Twitter, the owners of Quarters Arcade Bar in downtown Salt Lake City called on Governor Gary Herbert to allow the sale of "to-go" cocktails in Utah, like other states have done. It sparked a big response on social media, including the hashtag #SaveUtahBars and an online...

COVID-19 continues to impact the state (and the world). On the latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast," we recap the latest meeting of the DABC commission. The agency continues to make a lot of money as the pandemic goes on and now it's mandating face coverings in all state-run liquor stores.We also talk to Kelly Howard and Camille Howard, the proprietors of Prohibition in Murray. When the pandemic hit, the speakeasy-themed bar had to re-think how it does a lot of...

Utah's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has a problem. The agency is reporting an 86% employee turnover with low wages being one of the biggest reasons why. It's gotten so bad, the DABC went to the legislature to ask for a new funding mechanism. The agency makes hundreds of millions of dollars for the state, but doesn't actually control its own budget (the legislature does). Some want a cut of the sales, while others want an expansion of state funding. State lawmakers acknowledged...