The Zion Curtain has been (partially) lifted!

[Abagadro]

As of last Wednesday, come to Utah and you no longer have to join and be a member of a private club to be to get a cocktail at the bar.

We are at least inching our way out of the dark ages. Got rid of the 1 oz. metered pour limit last year. Now we just need to get rid of state-run liquor stores and the prohibition on heavy beer on tap and this place might actually be tolerable.

 

[Crouse229]

Congrats! We still have the state liquor stores here in Texas, hopefully they'll disappear in my lifetime. That and the 2am cut off at bars, and the 9pm cut off for liquor purchases. So inconvenient.

 

[Bluestaco]

YEAH!!! Going on an actual pub crawl ASAP.
Now if we can just get neighborhood bars, cold beer in the liquor stores (or better yet, all beer and wine OUT of the liquor stores), and get rid of the ridiculous 3.2 thing*, we'll be almost like real adults!

*(Utah is 3.2% beer by WEIGHT, not volume, and we're the only state that is. That equates to about 4% by volume, when most beer is 4.2 to 4.5% abv anyway, so it's even more ridiculous.)

CHEERS!!!!!

 

[Abagadro]

YEAH!!! Going on an actual pub crawl ASAP.

I'm just glad I can walk down to the Bayou whenever I feel like it.

 

[toucanlamp]

I got a kick when down visiting family in Arkansas at how the majority of the counties are "dry". But I read some studies and they say that drunk driving rates are highest among residents of them, since you need to travel miles down the road to the next one in order to drink somewhere.

I assume Joseph Smith's paradise would be a bit more restrictive yet.

But don't complain too much, here in Canada alcohol probably costs on average 50-75% more than in the US.

 

[Abagadro]

But don't complain too much, here in Canada alcohol probably costs on average 50-75% more than in the US.

At the state liquor store here a six-pack of decent beer costs about 13 dollars.

 

[toucanlamp]

At the state liquor store here a six-pack of decent beer costs about 13 dollars.

Oh yeah, I guess it varies much from state to state then, that's similar to up here. I remember at Wal-Mart in Hot Springs you could get a 12 pack of average brands for $9.99 - next to the ammo just sitting on the shelf to toss in your cart lol, land of the free!

 

[BrightFutur]

Alas, Utah begins to make progress as I gear up for my return to Ontario. Glad to see that B&B has some more people representing Utah though. Alcohol and other ahem, cultural issues aside, it's a great state!

 

[Emmett]

Congrats!

 

[jazzman]

At the state liquor store here a six-pack of decent beer costs about 13 dollars.

I'll be there next month. How much will the airline charge if I bring a case of beer?

 

[soapbox]

It's about time. I was so perplexed when returning from a backpacking trip in Zion that my buddies and I had to purchase a membership at "Beer Nuts." At least they threw in some pint glasses, but we were surprised at the "blue laws", and I'm from Alabama, folks.

 

[adonnellyr]

YEAH!!! Going on an actual pub crawl ASAP.
Now if we can just get neighborhood bars, cold beer in the liquor stores (or better yet, all beer and wine OUT of the liquor stores), and get rid of the ridiculous 3.2 thing*, we'll be almost like real adults!

*(Utah is 3.2% beer by WEIGHT, not volume, and we're the only state that is. That equates to about 4% by volume, when most beer is 4.2 to 4.5% abv anyway, so it's even more ridiculous.)

CHEERS!!!!!

Is that even beer?

 

[DunEdinRanger]

At the state liquor store here a six-pack of decent beer costs about 13 dollars.

That is an outrage! For $13 plus 7% sales tax, I can get Palo Santo Marron from Dogfish Head. For about $16 I can get a case of Yuengling.

Not all state Liquor stores are unreasonable. NH and Penn's actually have decent prices.

 

[Walter Sobchak]

I never understood the 3.2 thing. With Bluestaco's explanation it makes it even harder to understand why they wouldn't just go with normal beer.

I had to join a club in Park City to drink some Wasatch. I think it was Polygamy Porter...it was reasonably tasty.

 

[Bluestaco]

I'm just glad I can walk down to the Bayou whenever I feel like it.

Me too. See you there!

I got a kick when down visiting family in Arkansas at how the majority of the counties are "dry". But I read some studies and they say that drunk driving rates are highest among residents of them, since you need to travel miles down the road to the next one in order to drink somewhere.

I assume Joseph Smith's paradise would be a bit more restrictive yet.

But don't complain too much, here in Canada alcohol probably costs on average 50-75% more than in the US.

The thing people--especially people in Utah who don't drink--don't understand is that you can fit half of Arkansas in the county I grew up in in Utah, and "dry county" just means you can't sell it there; it doesn't mean you can't drink there.

Is that even beer?

It is, and that's the point. If 3.2% by weight turns out to be 4% by volume and most beer is 4.2 to 5% or so, then there is hardly a difference! The only thing it does is keep us from getting a lot of beers and putting many of those we CAN get in the state-owned French pharmacy where it costs twice as much.

 

[tg16]

I have to chuckle as I read your posts. In Walker, LA the only legal alcohol sold is beer and its not sold on Sundays. I mention legal because one of my neighbors about 1.5 miles away is a moonshiner.

 

[Edcculus]

Don't forget that Homebrewing was recently made legal there too.

I'm from SC where we have a bunch of rediculous blue laws. Until last year, nothing above 3.2% by weight could be sold either. I don't envy you for the whole membership thing! It also varies by county, but you can't buy alcohol on Sunday in most places. That makes it a pain to plan for Superbowl parties.

 

[adonnellyr]

Me too. See you there!



The thing people--especially people in Utah who don't drink--don't understand is that you can fit half of Arkansas in the county I grew up in in Utah, and "dry county" just means you can't sell it there; it doesn't mean you can't drink there.



It is, and that's the point. If 3.2% by weight turns out to be 4% by volume and most beer is 4.2 to 5% or so, then there is hardly a difference! The only thing it does is keep us from getting a lot of beers and putting many of those we CAN get in the state-owned French pharmacy where it costs twice as much.

Are these light beers? Pretty much every beer that isn't light is 5% here...4% seems light, and 3-something seems like not even a drink..

 

[Commander Quan]

Within the last year homebrewing was legalized in Utah, I say you should pick up a new hobby.

 

[Abagadro]

I homebrewed a lot back in law school when it was quasi-illegal. We have a great home brew store here and I made up some kick-*** brews. I just don't have the time to do it these days. That and SWMBO wouldn't take too kindly to the entire house smelling like wort.