The people who produce, distribute and sell beer say it generates three-quarters of a billion dollars in Utah each year and provides jobs for 10,670 Utahns, directly or indirectly. It also generates $255 million annually in wages and benefits, according to a study released by the National Beer Wholesalers Association and Beer Institute.

"This study demonstrates that the beer industry is more than just those who make and distribute our products," Jeff Becker, president of the Beer Institute in Washington, D.C., said in a statement. "We are an industry of farmers, can manufacturers, truck drivers, retailers and many others located in virtually every state and local community across the country."

How the institute came by those numbers can be traced to its Web site, beerservesamerica .org, where it lists reports from such agencies the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as selected distillers and retail outlets.

Although officials at the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Commission - which regulates and enforces Utah's liquor laws - could not confirm the institute's numbers, they do estimate that the state has collected nearly $12.5 million in beer excise taxes this year alone.

The 22-year-old beer tax is used to pay for prevention programs and mandatory training for clerks at grocery and convenience stores to ensure minors do not buy beer. Some of that money also goes into the state's general fund.

Nationwide, the beer industry payroll exceeds $21 billion, with federal, state and local governments receiving tax revenue in excess of $30 billion annually, according to the Beer Institute's study, which was conducted by John Dunham & Associates, an economic-research firm.

Although beer is likely to always be a part of Utah's future, it was not always easy in the past to find a place that sold beer.

This year is the fifth anniversary of a federal ruling that forced Utah to lift a ban against advertising for heavy beer and liquor. And even before that, some Utah beer retailers sidestepped the letter of a law outlawing all beer advertising by simply misspelling the word. One retailer posted a sign saying:

"Cold Bee?'' followed by a smaller inscription, "Welcome to Utah."

Another had a sign that read:

"Cold Beer," followed by "Nuts" in smaller letters.

dawn@sltrib.com

$

754

MILLION

Amount the beer industry generates to Utah's economy each year.

67.5

Beer excise taxes collected from 2001 to 2006.

497

Total profits to the state and state taxes generated from sales of beer, wine and spirits during the past six years.

14 12

&

Number of Utah brewers and independent beer distributors, respectively, along with 2,900 outlets selling beer.

28,000

Barrels of beer produced this year by the state's largest brewer, Utah Brewers Cooperative, makers of Squatters and Wasatch labels.

Sources: National Beer Wholesalers Association, Utah Department of Alcohol Beverage Control, Utah Brewers Cooperative