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 latest episode of "Utah Booze News: An Alcohol Policy Podcast," we recap the DABC meeting. Tanner Strickland Lenart, an attorney with the firm Christensen & Jensen, whose specialty is liquor laws, returns to answer your questions submitted on social media about why Utah laws are the way they are.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 announcement, and we recap a long DABC commission meeting of bar licenses and champagne shortages.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Utah's very strict legal definition of "beer."

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 with an unmuted public and so many bad internet connections.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 liquor lawyer (no really, that's her job at the law firm of Christensen & Jensen) answers them and explains why the DABC does the things they do.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 consumer-friendly.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 they will land.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 director Sal Petilos who spills a little tea, er, drink.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Podcast" produced by FOX 13 and The Salt Lake Tribune, we also have a look at what the Cox administration may be considering when it comes to changes at the DABC (can you say "to go cocktails?").Also, the DABC commission is starting to speak up against the Utah State Legislature. Some commissioners have had it with a lack of bar licenses.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.