Forever beer on tap in the state of Utah has barely been beer. In Utah, draft beer can contain no more than 3.2% ABW (alcohol by weight), or 4% ABV (alcohol by volume). According to the Salt Lake Tribune, though, that’s all about to change. It seems that this past Tuesday, the Utah House voted 58-2 to allow the sale of full-strength draft beer in bars and restaurants (bars and restaurants in Utah are already allowed to serve full-strength beer, IF they buy it in bottles from state liquor stores).
What the report from the Tribune neglects to metion is exactly what “full strength” is. Are we talking the “full strength” 5% ABV of a Bud Lite, or are we talking the full strength of, say, a 10% ABV Russian Imperial Stout?
Either way, thankfully, it’s a step in the right direction of reducing the country’s remaining silly beer laws. The weaker draft beer sold in Utah (which is often referred to as “Near Beer”) is only available in four other U.S. states — Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Minnesota. Now the bill just needs to pass a vote by the Utah State Senate. Good luck, Utah!
Other Comical Utah State Liquor Laws:
- Utah is the only state in the country that considers bars open to the public to be private clubs, requiring customers to be members or to be sponsored by one. Thus customers are required to fill out an application and pay a fee to enter a bar.
- Utah is also the only state that prohibits bartenders from serving cocktails directly over the counter at restaurant bars. A partition usually made of glass known as a Zion Curtain separates the two.
- By law, Utah liquor stores are closed on Election Day.
Source: Utah House approves full-strength beer on tap [Salt Lake Tribune]
