Utah’s beer lovers are counting the days until Nov. 1 — 138 as of Saturday — when higher-alcohol brews will be allowed in grocery and convenience stores.
On that date, a new state law takes effect that boosts the allowable amount of alcohol in retail beer from 3.2 percent alcohol by weight to 4 percent. Stronger brews will continue to be sold at liquor stores operated by the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
DABC Executive Director Sal Petilos — in an interview on The Salt Lake Tribune-FOX 13 Utah “Booze News” podcast — answered questions about the switch and how it might cause delays and thinly stocked shelves; what might happen to liquor revenues at state-owned liquor stores; and can Utahns stop referring to “3.