Utah officialdom declares that Utah’s drinking laws are neither incomprehensible nor hinder
getting a drink. So here they are. You decide.
Beer: Watered-down 3.2% beer is sold at SOME grocery and convenience stores (local laws
prohibit sales on Sundays in some places) and in restaurants that only have beer licenses. Real
beer is sold at state liquor stores, in private clubs, and restaurants with liquor licenses.
Wine: Wine is served in restaurants (ONLY if you order food) with liquor licenses (the state limits
the number), private clubs, or can be purchased at the state liquor stores--nowhere else. Liquor
stores are closed Sundays and on state and federal holidays.
Liquor: Sold in state liquor stores or by the drink in licensed restaurants (if you order food) and
private clubs (without ordering food). Liquor stores are closed Sundays and on state and federal holidays.
Private Club Membership: Adult visitors can purchase a temporary membership to any private
club for $4, valid for three weeks for the visitor and up to 7 guests. A separate membership must
be purchased for each private club. An existing member can sponsor a guest provided that there is
a "pre-existing relationship between guest and sponsor". The sponsor is required to remain in the
club while the sponsored guest is present. There is a chance of getting "sponsored" by entering
and asking.
Brown Bag: At the discretion of the establishment, patrons can pay a corkage fee to BYOB wine
in licensed restaurants and private clubs. You can carry out unfinished wine from a restaurant or
private club if the bottle is re-corked. This can save a lot on wine, as the markup is typically two to three times the state store price.
Utah Liquor Licenses: Full service in licensed restaurants and private clubs. Liquor by the drink,
wine by the glass or bottle, and beer in bottles, cans, and on draft. Liquor, wine, and real beer
(over 3.2) are sold in State Stores.
Restaurants with full licenses offer liquor, wine and real beer from noon to midnight and 3.2 beer
from 10am to 1am. Patrons must order food to be served alcohol. Restaurants with
limited liquor licenses serve wine and real beer from noon to midnight, 3.2 beer from 10am
to 1am. No liquor.
State Liquor Store Locations:
Park City: 1901 Sidewinder Dr.
The largest store in Park City has
one of the best wine selections in Utah.
524 Main Street, Kimball Plaza at Kimball Junction (I-80 and UT-224)
Forget the store on Main St. in Heber City, which has a very limited stock and
higher prices.
Where to get a drink in Heber Valley:
Most of the restaurants are associated with the better hotels, like Homestead, Inn on the Creek, Blue Boar Inn. There is a seedy bar (3.2 beer only) and pool hall on
Heber City’s Main St. that looks like a scene out of the Wild West. The Owl Bar at Sundance is a
real Old West bar imported from Wyoming. There's 3.2 beer at the grocery stores and some convenience
stores. The Other End is Heber Valley’s only private club. I’ve never been there, but here is the
report I got from a Park City acquaintance: "I travel a lot, and that’s the only place I’ve been
anywhere in the world that I was afraid to enter. We looked though the window and took off."
Heber Valley and Park City have the same phone book. The Yellow Pages have no listings for
"liquor", and the only one for "beer" is for a microbrewery, and there is one listing under "wine."
There are 94 listings for Mormon churches.