Liquor sales are among the state's biggest moneymakers, bringing in more cash than oil and gas severance taxes or interest earnings on state investments.

"There's no way the public would ever go for liquor stores to be closed on Fridays," said Sharon Mackay, spokeswoman for the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. "There's just too great a demand."

The four-day workweek for most state workers, implemented on Aug. 4, does not apply to the state's 40 liquor stores and the 100 smaller package agencies located in resorts and rural areas. Although liquor outlet hours vary, the largest stores are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; all are open Monday through Saturday.

"It goes without saying that the state would loose a significant amount of revenue if liquor stores were to close on Fridays," said Lisa McGarry, a member of the Utah Hospitality Association. "That just isn't going to happen."

Last year, liquor revenues flowing into state and local treasuries totaled $112 million.

About $30 million went to to schools and municipalities and another $82 million to the state. By contrast, other state moneymakers include $77 million from insurance premium taxes, $65 million from oil and gas severance taxes, $63 million interest earnings on investments and $56 million in taxes on tobacco and cigarettes.

Big returns from liquor come from a state monopoly that keeps profits that otherwise would go to private retailers. They also are helped by low operating costs and high taxes on alcohol.

Utahns pay the nation's highest taxes on wine and second highest on distilled spirits, according to the Distilled Spirits Council. At the same time, the state spends only 11 percent on operating costs while collecting more than three times that amount in sales taxes, school lunch subsidies and profits that flow directly into the general fund.

Utah also maximizes liquor profits by paying wages to 35 percent of its full-time liquor employees and more than 90 percent of its part-time staff that hover near or below the poverty level. Further savings are realized by withholding medical and other benefits from part-time employees, who make up the bulk of the liquor staff.

The Utah Poverty Partnership has its eye on liquor profits to help build 51,000 affordable rental units for low-income residents. The group is asking to tap a portion of profits from liquor sales to support the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund, which lends money to developers and builders who construct affordable housing for the poor.

Profits alone from liquor sales increased by $6 million from 2006 to 2007. And next year, total revenues are expected to skyrocket even more.

The state is building or enlarging 10 liquor stores along the Wasatch Front and in southern Utah, increasing retail space by 40 percent. And unlike other state-subsidized building projects, all the liquor store construction is paid for by imbibers.

dawn@sltrib.com