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By Amanda Greenwood
Associate News Editor
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Utah lawmakers are advancing legislation—House Bill 59—that would scale back a controversial new alcohol law, which currently requires restaurants to check the identification of every customer who orders a drink, regardless of their age.
What Is Utah’s New Alcohol ID Law
The universal ID‑check mandate for restaurants—which took effect on January 1—was part of Utah’s annual alcohol omnibus bill, which was passed last year. It aimed to curb underage drinking and prevent individuals who were legally prohibited from purchasing alcohol from doing so. Under the law, all customers were required to present identification when buying alcohol, no matter how old they appeared.
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However, the rule quickly drew criticism from restaurant owners and industry groups, who said it disrupted service and created frustration among customers—particularly older patrons and tourists unfamiliar with Utah’s alcohol regulations.
Some restaurant operators reported turning away large groups because one member lacked ID, even if they were clearly well over the legal drinking age.
“This was never the intent of the bill,” Representative Steve Eliason, a Republican from Sandy and the sponsor of HB 59, told lawmakers during a committee hearing, according to reporting by Axios. He said, “We’ve listened to concerns from the industry, also the advocates from underage drinking prevention. We’ve struck a compromise,” Fox 13 reported.
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What Would HB59 Do If Passed?
HB 59, if passed, would allow servers to once again request identification only from customers who appear to be under 35 years old. The change would bring restaurants back in line with Utah’s previous alcohol service rules, while keeping strict ID requirements in place at bars, grocery stores, and convenience stores that sell alcohol.
Industry representatives have voiced support for the change, arguing that restaurants operate differently from bars and retail alcohol outlets and that a blanket ID rule places unnecessary strain on servers and staff. Tourism‑heavy areas have been particularly affected, as visitors from out of state or overseas are often unaware of Utah’s unusually strict alcohol laws.
Fox 13 reported that, under the bill, universal ID checks would still be required at bars and at stores selling packaged alcohol, where lawmakers say the risk of illegal purchases remains higher.
Supporters of the original law have emphasized that those provisions are critical for identifying restricted individuals and preventing alcohol abuse.
What Happens Next
According to Fox 13, HB 59 was passed unanimously out of the House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee and will now head to the full Utah House of Representatives for further debate and a vote.
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