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Utah restaurants that want to sell just wine and beer may soon have to get on a waiting list after Tuesday, as the state liquor commission is expected to hand out the last four limited-service licenses available in the state.
"We have four applicants and four licenses left," Vickie Ashby, spokeswoman for the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (DABC), said Monday. "After tomorrow we could be at zero."
One limited-service restaurant license — which allows for beer and wine sales, not cocktails — will become available in October via a population increase, Ashby said. And, if a restaurant closes or surrenders its limited-service license, that permit also could become available.
Until then, restaurants will have to get on a waiting list.
It would be up to the Legislature to fix the shortage.
Under state statute, the number of state liquor licenses is tied to population. The number of limited-service restaurant licenses, for example, is determined by dividing the state population by 7,493. With nearly 3 million people in Utah, that means the state can have about 400 limited- service permits.
As of Monday, the state still had 38 full-service restaurant licenses — which allows restaurants to serve heavy beer, wine and spirits — available. Utah allows one full-service license for every 4,925 residents.
With both full-service and limited-service restaurant licenses, owners are required to build a bar structure — sometimes called a "Zion Curtain" — to shield the mixing and pouring of alcohol from the view of minors. Both licenses also require patrons to order food when buying alcoholic beverages. Application and renewal fees, however, are greater for the full-service licenses.
There are similar population requirements for taverns, reception centers, banquet/catering facilities and clubs. The only exception to population-based licensing limits is for restaurants and recreational centers, like bowling alleys, that serve only 3.2-percent beer by weight.
Waiting lists are nothing new for the DABC. For several years, businesses have typically had to wait up to a year to get a club — or bar — license. On Tuesday, one club license is available for 13 businesses on the current waiting list.