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Local restaurateur urges Utah County to back lowering server age; sheriff praises pay increases
Summary
A Provo restaurant owner asked the commission to support a resolution allowing 18‑year‑olds to serve alcohol; Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith thanked the commission for employee raises and said staffing remains a challenge.
Chad Pritchard, owner of Fat Daddy's Pizzeria in downtown Provo, asked the Utah County Commission during public comment on March 5 to back a resolution supporting a change to liquor rules so 18‑, 19‑ and 20‑year‑olds could serve alcohol.
Pritchard said restaurant staffing has not recovered since COVID closures and that limiting servers to age 21 and older harms small restaurants’ ability to hire. “That day came in 2020 when they shut us down and all of our servers went away,” Pritchard said. He asked the commission to adopt a resolution endorsing a “common sense liquor policy” ahead of projected population growth and large events.
Pritchard also said businesses need help retaining servers with the Olympics and predicted county growth; he described the requested county resolution as a way to support small-business staffing. The commission did not take action on the request at the meeting.
Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith spoke after public comment to thank the commission for the pay raises voters approved that day and to advocate on behalf of his staff. “I personally think they deserve more,” Sheriff Smith said of his employees, adding the sheriff’s office continues to struggle to fill enforcement and jail positions.
No commission resolution or formal agenda action on liquor‑service age was introduced during the meeting. The commission moved to a closed session after public comment.
