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Senate advances bill letting small counties permit 'brown-bag' alcohol service
Summary
After extensive floor debate, the Utah Senate amended and moved Senate Bill 4 — allowing residents in counties under 15,000 people to bring and consume some alcoholic beverages on restaurant premises if the county governing board approves — to the third-reading calendar 17–8.
Senators on Jan. 17 advanced Senate Bill 4, a measure that would let counties with fewer than 15,000 residents permit patrons to bring and consume their own alcoholic beverages in restaurants and private events, if the county governing board approves.
Sponsor Chuck Peterson said the bill is intended to give small, rural establishments a local option after what he described as an unintended consequence of earlier liquor-law changes. "It simply says that in counties with less than 15,000 population can use the brown bag system," Peterson said, and offered an amendment to make the change subject to approval by the county governing board. The amendment was adopted on voice vote.
Opponents urged caution, arguing the change might reopen compromises struck during the statewide liquor overhaul and create cross-county shifts in business. Senator Beatty said the Legislature should give the Liquor Control Commission and other stakeholders an opportunity to weigh in; Senator Reese warned that rolling back aspects of the prior compromise could have broad, unforeseen effects.
Supporters countered that the proposal affects only a small share of Utah’s population — Peterson noted roughly 15 counties and about 94,000 residents — and sought to frame the bill as a fairness measure for rural businesses that cannot afford private-club licensing and its cost and bonding requirements. Peterson cited costs attached to club licensing and bond requirements that make private clubs impractical in some counties.
The Senate called for the question on whether SB 4 should be read for the third time; a roll-call vote recorded 17 ayes, 8 nays and 4 absent, and the bill was placed on the third-reading calendar for further consideration.
The bill, as amended, would not require any county to adopt the brown-bag option; it would allow the county’s governing board to decide whether to authorize the practice. The next procedural step is third reading, where senators may offer further amendments and a final passage vote may be scheduled.
Sen. Chuck Peterson sponsored the bill and introduced the amendment. Several senators participating in the debate included Sen. Beatty, Sen. Reese and Sen. Black, among others.
If SB4 proceeds to final passage, it would return to the chamber for the house’s consideration and any further action there.
