Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Alcohol Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House approves compromise to raise beer ABW to 4% and fund substance-abuse programs
Summary
First substitute S.B. 132 was adopted by the Utah House, raising alcohol-by-weight limits for beer from 3.2% to 4.0%, creating an advisory study council, and increasing barrel tax to fund substance-abuse treatment and law enforcement; supporters call it a measured compromise, opponents warned of public-health risks.
The Utah House adopted the second substitute to Senate Bill 132 on March 13 by a vote of 61–14, changing beer alcohol-by-weight (ABW) policy from 3.2 percent to 4.0 percent, creating a study/advisory council, and adjusting tax provisions to fund substance-abuse treatment and local law enforcement.
Sponsor Representative Notwell described the measure as a compromise reached among retailers, convenience-store associations, microbrewers and prevention stakeholders. “This is a responsible move, a modest move, in this direction,” Notwell said, adding the state would remain among the lowest ABW states in the nation.
Opponents raised public-health concerns and questioned timing, saying a study of impacts on underage use, binge drinking and impaired driving should precede any change. Representative Thurston urged caution, describing the change as “the wrong way around” if a study would later show harms.
The bill includes a study component with an advisory council and sets an implementation date; the sponsor said study work would conclude ahead of implementation so baseline data would be available. The substitute also modestly raises per-barrel taxes to fund substance-abuse treatment programs and local law enforcement as directed by the advisory council.
Next steps: The substitute passed the House and will be sent back to the Senate for consideration.
