Utah to increase alcohol limits on beer

SALT LAKE CITY -- Alcohol limits for beer at Utah grocery stores inched closer to the rest of the country Wednesday under a legislative compromise in the state where the predominant faith teaches abstinence from alcohol.

The agreement would raise alcohol limits to 4 percent starting in November, a level still lower than almost all other states but would allow beers such as Bud Light and Corona to be sold, Republican Sen. Jerry Stevenson said.

The deal must still be approved by the full Legislature, but Stevenson expressed confidence that would happen.

The agreement breaks a stalemate over a proposed larger increase supported by big retailers such as Wal-Mart but opposed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which counts most lawmakers as members.

The 4-percent-by-weight limit would allow most, but not all, regular-strength beers in private stores and on tap, said Kate Bradshaw, a lobbyist with the Responsible Beer Choice Coalition, a group of manufacturers, distributers and sellers.

"It's the biggest change in Utah alcohol history in 86 years, since prohibition ended," she said. A task force would also be assigned to study whether to raise the limits again. Higher-strength beer, wine and spirits are only available at state-owned liquor stores in Utah.

The compromise is palatable for the church as well. Marty Stephens, director of government relations, said the faith still had concerns but considers the compromise an improvement and won't oppose it.

Utah now limits beer to 3.2 percent alcohol at grocery and convenience stores, which stock weaker versions of popular beers. Large breweries have been discontinuing those products, though, because the market is shrinking as other states such as Oklahoma, Colorado and Kansas abandon similar limits.

The emptier shelves are difficult for stores depending on revenue from beer sales, Stevenson has said. He originally wanted to raise alcohol limits to 4.8 percent, but The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opposed the idea. The state Senate passed it anyway, but it stalled in the House amid concern about the potential side effects.

If passed, the deal also would avoid the possibility of a ballot initiative seeking the approval of higher alcohol limits from voters who have bucked state lawmakers on other hot-button issues such as medical marijuana and Medicaid expansion.

Utah also hosts an active microbrewery community, and many brewers had opposed the incremental 4.8 increase they said would benefit big companies over locals.

The Utah Brewers Guild did not take a position on the compromise deal.