SALT LAKE CITY — State officials unveiled a new training video Thursday aimed at helping Utah’s bartenders and alcohol servers prevent over-service, a move that underscores the state’s effort to reduce impaired driving and its often-deadly consequences.
The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS), in collaboration with Utah’s Department of Public Safety and restaurant industry partners, released the free, optional training as a tool for alcohol license holders to educate staff on how to recognize and handle intoxicated patrons.
“Even one Utahn getting injured or killed due to impaired driving is one too many,” said Tiffany Clason, executive director of DABS. “Those working in Utah’s service industry play an important role by being alert and aware of when to cut someone off from ordering another drink.”
The video is available on the DABS website and includes strategies for recognizing signs of intoxication, navigating interactions with impaired customers, and understanding the legal and financial consequences of over-service.
State law prohibits the sale of alcohol to intoxicated individuals. Violations can lead to fines up to $25,000, license suspension or revocation for businesses, and personal fines and work suspensions for employees. Since December 2024, DABS has issued 10 violations for over-service.
Clason said many bar and restaurant operators support the effort. “I have long been impressed by the commitment from responsible restaurant and bar owners and workers to be a part of the solution,” she said.
Captain Chamberlin Neff of the Utah Department of Public Safety’s State Bureau of Investigation said his unit has conducted 124 over-service investigations since the beginning of 2024.
“As of 2025, preliminary data indicates over 200 car crashes due to impaired driving,” Neff said. “Our SBI team works methodically to prevent alcohol related crashes before they happen by finding instances of alcohol over-service and stopping future occurrences.”
The training video was funded through a grant from the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association.