Industry News
Thought Halloween was already scary enough? Think again.
Utah liquor stores are dumping massive volumes of beer down the drain at the end of the month.
Any beer that remains on liquor store shelves in Utah at midnight on Oct. 31 — and is 5% alcohol by volume or less — will be poured down the drain, according to Kathy Stephenson with The Salt Lake Tribune.
The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control says it has no choice but to “destroy” the unsold brews after Nov. 1, when a new law takes effect changing where beer with an alcohol level up to 5% ABV is sold.
That means dozens of beers that fall between 4% and 5% ABV need to be moved out of liquor stores or dumped.
For nearly a century, Utah law has barred grocery and convenience stores from selling beer that was higher than 4% ABV (that’s 3.2% by weight). Higher-alcohol brews could be sold only in state-owned liquor stores.
The new law changes that, boosting the alcohol level for retail outlets to 5% ABV. This is good news for Utah beer enthusiasts and skiers alike, who enjoy a nice après brew after a righteous powder day.
