After extensive public input and debate, on September 18, 2012, the Salt Lake City Council adopted changes to update alcohol regulations in the City. The action ensures that the new alcohol regulations in the City are no more restrictive than required by State Law.

The regulations relate to the following types of alcohol serving establishments identified by the State.

• Taverns can sell 3.2% alcohol content beer without requiring the sale of food.
• Social clubs can sell beer, wine and liquor without serving food.
• Dining clubs can sell beer, wine and liquor without serving food but 50% of their revenue must come from food sales.
• Brewpubs can brew beer for sale to customers as well as serve food.
• Microbreweries can brew more beer than brewpubs and can brew the beer for sale to customers, stores and other businesses.

Restaurants that have liquor licenses are not part of this ordinance. State Law requires that in a restaurant with a liquor license, in order to serve a person alcohol, they must also be served food. For a restaurant that serves alcohol, their main source of revenue (70%) has to be from the sale of food.

The new regulations:

• Have the same definitions for alcohol establishments as the State
• Defer to State regulations regarding the location of liquor stores since the State does not require City permission to locate State liquor stores
• Simplify the regulations and procedures so they are easier to understand and complement rather than duplicate State Law
• Uphold the State Law spacing requirements from schools, churches, parks, and similar facilities
• Remove the regulations that limited the number of establishments that could be located on a block. Instead, the market will dictate the appropriate locations for alcohol establishments, especially Downtown
• Allow dining clubs within neighborhood business areas; Allow for a maximum 2,200 square foot maximum business to be located in neighborhood business areas if they meet certain conditions that are focused on mitigating negative impacts
• Require spacing between 350 and 600 feet depending on the zoning district between alcohol establishments in neighborhood business areas, and
• Define where alcohol production (brewery, distillery, winery) is allowed in the City.