One of the many perplexing liquor laws in Utah revolves around state liquor stores being closed on the more “obscure” legal holidays.  Most Utahns don’t get holidays like Columbus Day or Presidents Day off from work, yet our liquor stores are inexplicably closed on those days.

Thankfully Representative Patrice Arent (D – Salt Lake City, District 36) is attempting to change that with HB 283, State Stores Pilot Program for Days of Sale of Liquor.

The bill adds one paragraph to state law that would allow the liquor commission to decide which holiday’s they would like liquor stores to be open.  It would also allow this to be implemented as a pilot program to see the advantages and disadvantages of such a program.

Now, odds are, you won’t see liquor stores on Christmas or New Years, but it has always been odd that someone could not buy a bottle of wine on Martin Luther King day or real beer on Independence Day.  Heck, anyone who currently frequents liquor stores knows that being closed on a Monday does not magically decrease drinking on the holiday, all it does is increase liquor purchases on Saturday.

This bill, ultimately, is only a small step in alcohol reform – but it is a step in the right direction.

To contact Rep. Arent, Click Here or call 801-618-1946

Impact: 2

Need: 2

Overall: 3

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