SALT LAKE CITY – When tourists visiting Utah inevitably complain about the state’s bizarre liquor laws, native Utahns usually suggest that they should try living under those inconvenient regulations full-time.
It should come as no surprise therefore to anyone that the Beehive State has been recognized as having the second-most restrictive liquor laws in the nation.
A recent study by Maxwell Social of New York City found that only Pennsylvania had more restrictive liquor laws than Utah.
That research analyzed all 50 states to identify those locations where laws most restrict the operation of bars, cafes and social clubs by comparing liquor-control systems, liquor-license quotas, cocktails-to-go laws, Sunday alcohol sales, happy-hour rules and Google search interest in gathering places outside the home and workplace.
The Maxwell Social study found that, in terms of restrictive laws governing the sale or consumption of alcohol, if you can name it, Utah has it.
Utah operates as an alcohol-control state and has a statewide liquor-license quota, two characteristics heavily represented among the lowest-ranked states.
The sale of discounted “happy hour” drinks are banned in Utah, as are the consumption of “cocktails-to-go” outside of licensed restaurants and other drinking establishments. Both of those practices are allowed in the top 15 states with the most permissive liquor laws.
The sale of off-premise spirits on Sunday is also governed by local-option rules in Utah.
The Official Utah Travel Guide acknowledges that traditionally strict laws on alcohol made enjoying an adult beverage in Utah a little more challenging in the past.
Since the 2002 Winter Olympics, however, a notable relaxation of these regulations have made it much easier for visiting tourists in Utah to drink up.
Utah still has the strictest laws about driving under the influence in the nation, however, with its DUI limit set at 0.05 percent.
Since it doesn’t take much drinking to reach that level of blood-alcohol concentration, the Utah tourist industry recommends that visitors consider walking or taking advantage of public transit or companies like Uber and Lyft where they are available.
According to the Maxwell Social study, the top 10 states with the most permissive liquor laws include Washington, Colorado, Missouri, Delaware, Nebraska, Connecticut, New York, Georgia, Kansas and Nevada.
Joining Utah at the other end of the spectrum as the states with the most restrictive laws are Michigan, Alaska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Ohio, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Idaho and Pennsylvania.
Information about the full study can be found by going inline to https://www.maxwellsocial.com/soiree/third-place-business-index
Located in the swanky Tribeca area of lower Manhattan, Maxwell Social is a members-only establishment catering to weddings, private celebrations and chef’s table dinners.