Utah alcohol glossary

Utah alcohol has its own vocabulary. Here it is in plain English, A to Z. Each term has its own link, so you can share a single definition.

ABV

Alcohol by volume, the percentage on the label. Utah's line between “beer” and “liquor” is 5% ABV.

Actual physical control

The DUI law covers being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle, not only driving it. Sitting behind the wheel counts.

Allocated

A scarce bottle that DABS gets in limited amounts and sells first come, first served at select stores on the third Saturday of the month. See rare bottles.

Beer

In Utah law, traditionally brewed beer at 5% ABV or less. The only alcohol sold in grocery and convenience stores.

Binge drinking

Drinking that brings blood alcohol to .08 or higher, roughly five drinks for men or four for women in about two hours.

Brown bagging

Bringing your own alcohol into a public place to drink there. Generally not allowed, except wine at a restaurant or bar that agrees, limos and charter buses under certain rules, and private parties.

Control state

A state that sells alcohol itself, at the wholesale level, the retail level or both, instead of leaving it to private businesses. Utah is one of 17.

Corkage

The fee a restaurant or bar may charge to serve a bottle of wine you bring.

CSC

The code DABS uses to identify each product, searchable in its product locator. Product pages on Utah Drops use it in the address.

DABS

The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services, which runs the state liquor stores and licenses bars, restaurants and events. Until 2022 it was the DABC, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. It has existed since 1935.

Drawing (RHDP)

The free online lottery DABS uses for its rarest bottles. Winners get the chance to buy one. RHDP stands for Rare High Demand Product. See the drawing.

Flavored malt beverage

Flavored, malt-based drinks. Utah law counts them as liquor, so they're sold in state stores and package agencies rather than grocery stores.

Heavy beer

Beer over 5% ABV. Legally liquor: sold in state stores and package agencies, and never poured on draft.

Homebrewing

Making beer or wine at home for personal use. Legal in Utah, up to 100 gallons a year per household with one adult, 200 with two or more.

Intent to dine

The rule that restaurants can only serve alcohol to people who are eating there. Bars don't have it.

Interdicted person

Someone a court has barred from buying alcohol. Their Utah ID says “NO ALCOHOL SALE”.

Liquor

In Utah law, spirits, wine, flavored malt beverages and heavy beer: anything alcoholic that isn't “beer.” Sold packaged only by state stores and package agencies.

Metered dispensing

The calibrated pour every liquor-serving business must use: 1.5 ounces of the main spirit, 2.5 ounces of spirits total per drink.

Neat, up, on the rocks

Neat: a spirit on its own, no ice. On the rocks: over ice. Up: chilled with ice, then strained into a glass without it.

Off-premise / on-premise

Off-premise means to go (grocery stores, liquor stores). On-premise means drinking where you bought it (bars, restaurants). Grocery products need DABS off-premise approval.

Package agency

A small liquor outlet run by a private operator under contract with the state, found in small towns, resorts and hotels, and at breweries, wineries and distilleries.

Pioneer Day

July 24, a Utah state holiday. State liquor stores are closed.

Place of Last Drink

A Utah program where officers record where a driver they stop last had a drink.

Primary and secondary liquor

In a cocktail, the main spirit (up to 1.5 ounces) and any extra spirits added for flavor (up to 2.5 ounces total).

Proof

Spirits strength, twice the ABV. 80 proof is 40% alcohol.

Single event permit

What an established organization needs to sell alcohol at an event, from a cash bar to a ticketed party. Private parties where guests pay nothing and the public isn't invited don't need one.

Special order

How to get a product DABS doesn't stock: by the full case, delivered to a store in about 45 days. Not available for allocated or rare bottles.

Standard drink

About 14 grams of pure alcohol: 12 ounces of 5% beer, 5 ounces of 12% wine, or 1.5 ounces of 40% spirits.

State liquor store

A liquor and wine store owned by the state and staffed by state employees. Open Monday to Saturday, closed Sundays and state holidays.

Temporary beer permit

What anyone needs to sell beer at an event of up to 30 days. See hosting & events.

Third Saturday

Allocated drop day: the third Saturday of every month.

Zion curtain

The nickname for the partition that used to hide restaurant bartenders from diners. Since 2017, restaurants can use a 10-foot buffer instead.