Utah Administrative Code
The Utah Administrative Code is the body of all effective administrative rules as compiled and organized by the Division of Administrative Rules (Subsection 63G-3-102(5); see also Sections 63G-3-701 and 702).
Rule R81-4A. Restaurant Liquor Licenses.
As in effect on August 1, 2009
Table of Contents
- R81-4A-1. Licensing.
- R81-4A-2. Application.
- R81-4A-3. Bonds.
- R81-4A-4. Insurance.
- R81-4A-5. Restaurant Liquor Licensee Liquor Order and Return Procedures.
- R81-4A-6. Restaurant Liquor Licensee Operating Hours.
- R81-4A-7. Sale and Purchase of Alcoholic Beverages.
- R81-4A-8. Liquor Storage.
- R81-4A-9. Alcoholic Product Flavoring.
- R81-4A-10. Table, Counter, and "Grandfathered Bar Structure" Service.
- R81-4A-11. Consumption at Patron's Table, Counter, and "Grandfathered Bar Structure".
- R81-4A-12. Menus; Price Lists.
- R81-4A-13. Identification Badge.
- R81-4A-14. Brownbagging.
- R81-4A-15. Grandfathered Bar Structures.
- KEY
- Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment
- Notice of Continuation
- Authorizing, Implemented, or Interpreted Law
R81-4A-1. Licensing.
(1) Restaurant liquor licenses are issued to persons as defined in Section 32A-1-105(44). Any contemplated action or transaction that may alter the organizational structure or ownership interest of the person to whom the license is issued must be submitted to the department for approval prior to consummation of any such action to ensure there is no violation of Sections 32A-4-102(3), 32A-4-103, and 32A-4-106(25).
(2) A restaurant liquor licensee that wishes to operate the same licensed premises under the operational restrictions of an on-premise beer retailer during certain designated periods of the day or night, must apply for and be issued a separate on-premise beer retailer license subject to the following:
(a) The same restaurant licensee must separately apply for a state on-premise beer retailer license pursuant to the requirements of Sections 32A-10-202, -203, and -205.
(b) Licensees applying for dually licensed premises must notify the department of the time periods under which each license will be operational at the time application is made. Changes must be requested in writing and approved in advance by the department. Licensees may operate sequentially under either license, but not concurrently.
(c) Restaurant liquor licensees holding a separate on-premise beer retailer license must operate in accordance with 32A-10-206 and R81-10 during the hours the on-premise beer retailer license is active.
(d) Liquor storage areas on the restaurant premises shall be deemed to remain on the floor plan of the restaurant premises and shall be kept locked during the hours the on-premise beer retailer license is active.
R81-4A-2. Application.
(1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a license application shall be included in the agenda of the monthly commission meeting for consideration for issuance of a restaurant license when the requirements of Sections 32A- 4-102, -103, and -105 have been met, a completed application has been received by the department, and the restaurant premises have been inspected by the department.
(2) Subsection (1) does not preclude the commission from considering an application for a conditional restaurant license under the terms and conditions of 32A-1-107(5).
R81-4A-3. Bonds.
No part of any corporate or cash bond required by Section 32A-4-105, may be withdrawn during the time the license is in effect. If the licensee fails to maintain a valid corporate or cash bond, the license shall be immediately suspended until a valid bond is obtained. Failure to obtain a bond within 30 days of notification by the department of the delinquency shall result in the automatic revocation of the license.
R81-4A-4. Insurance.
Public liability and dram shop insurance coverage required in Section 32A-4-102(1)(h) and (i) must remain in force during the time the license is in effect. Failure of the licensee to maintain the required insurance coverage may result in a suspension or revocation of the license by the commission.
R81-4A-5. Restaurant Liquor Licensee Liquor Order and Return Procedures.
The following procedures shall be followed when a restaurant liquor licensee orders liquor from or returns liquor to any state liquor store, package agency, or department satellite warehouse:
(1) The licensee must place the order in advance to allow department personnel sufficient time to assemble the order. The licensee or employees of the licensee may not pick merchandise directly off the shelves of a state store or package agency to fill the licensee=s order. The order shall include the business name of the licensee, department licensee number, and list the products ordered specifying each product by code number and quantity.
(2) The licensee shall allow at least four hours for department personnel to assemble the order for pick-up. When the order is complete, the licensee will be notified by phone and given the total cost of the order. The licensee may pay for the product in cash, company check or cashier=s check.
(3) The licensee or the licensee=s designee shall examine and sign for the order before it leaves the store, agency or satellite warehouse to verify that the product has been received.
(4) Merchandise shall be supplied to the licensee on request when it is available on a first come first serve basis. Discounted items and limited items may, at the discretion of the department, be provided to a licensee on an allocated basis.
(5)(a) Spirituous liquor may be returned by the licensee for the original purchase price only under the following conditions:
(i) the bottle has not been opened;
(ii) the seal remains intact;
(iii) the label remains intact; and
(iv) upon a showing of the original cash register receipt.
(b) A restocking fee of 10% shall be assessed on the entire amount on any returned spirituous liquor order that exceeds $1,000. All spirituous liquor returned that is based on a single purchase on a single cash register receipt must be returned at the same time at a single store, package agency, or satellite warehouse location.
(b) Wine and beer may not be returned by the licensee for the original purchase price except upon a showing that the product was spoiled or non-consumable.
R81-4A-6. Restaurant Liquor Licensee Operating Hours.
Allowable hours of liquor sales shall be in accordance with Section 32A-4-106(9). However, the licensee may open the liquor storage area during hours otherwise prohibited for the limited purpose of inventory, restocking, repair, and cleaning.
R81-4A-7. Sale and Purchase of Alcoholic Beverages.
(1) Alcoholic beverages (including light beer) must be sold in connection with an order for food placed and paid for by a patron. An order for food may not include food items gratuitously provided by the restaurant to patrons. A patron may pay for an alcoholic beverage at the time of purchase, or, at the discretion of both the licensee and the patron, the price charged may be added to the patron's tab, provided that a written beverage tab, as provided in Section 32A-4-106(26), shall be commenced upon the patron's first purchase and shall be maintained by the restaurant during the course of the patron's stay at the restaurant regardless of where the patron orders and consumes an alcoholic beverage.
(2) The restaurant shall maintain at least 70% of its total business from the sale of food pursuant to Section 32A-4-106(23).
(a) The restaurant shall maintain records separately showing quarterly expenditures and sales for beer, heavy beer, liquor, wine, set-ups, and food. These shall be available for inspection and audit by representatives of the department, and maintained for a period of three years.
(b) If any inspection or audit discloses that the sales of food are less than 70% for any quarterly period, an order to show cause shall be issued by the department to determine why the license should not be immediately suspended by the commission. Any suspension shall remain in effect until the licensee is able to prove to the satisfaction of the commission that in the future, the sales of food will meet or exceed 70%. Failure of the licensee to provide satisfactory proof of the required food percentage within three months of the date the license was suspended, shall result in the revocation of the license.
(3) Liquor dispensing shall be in accordance with Section 32A-4-106; Section R81-1-9 (Liquor Dispensing Systems), and Section R81-1-11 (Multiple Licensed Facility Storage and Service) of these rules.
R81-4A-8. Liquor Storage.
Liquor bottles kept for sale in use with a dispensing system, liquor flavorings in properly labeled unsealed containers, and unsealed containers of wines poured by the glass may be stored in the same storage area of the restaurant as approved by the department.
R81-4A-9. Alcoholic Product Flavoring.
Restaurant liquor licensees may use alcoholic products as flavoring subject to the following guidelines:
(1) Alcoholic product flavoring may be utilized in beverages only during the authorized selling hours under the restaurant liquor license. Alcoholic product flavoring may be used in the preparation of food items and desserts at any time if plainly and conspicuously labeled "cooking flavoring".
(2) No restaurant employee under the age of 21 years may handle alcoholic product flavorings.
R81-4A-10. Table, Counter, and "Grandfathered Bar Structure" Service.
(1) A wine service may be performed by the server at the patron's table, counter, or "grandfathered bar structure" for wine either purchased at the restaurant or carried in by a patron. The wine may be opened and poured by the server.
(2) Beer and heavy beer, if in sealed containers, may be opened and poured by the server at the patron's table, counter, or "grandfathered bar structure".
R81-4A-11. Consumption at Patron's Table, Counter, and "Grandfathered Bar Structure".
(1) A patron's table, counter, or "grandfathered bar structure" may be located in waiting, patio, garden and dining areas previously approved by the department.
(2) Consumption of any alcoholic beverage must be within a reasonable proximity of a patron's table, counter, or "grandfathered bar structure so as to ensure that the server can maintain a written beverage tab on the amount of alcoholic beverages consumed.
R81-4A-12. Menus; Price Lists.
(1) Contents of Alcoholic Beverage Menu.
(a) Each licensee shall have readily available for its patrons a printed alcoholic beverage price list, or menu containing current prices of all mixed drinks, wine, beer, and heavy beer. This list shall include any charges for the service of packaged wines or heavy beer.
(b) Any printed menu, master beverage price list or other printed list is sufficient as long as the prices are current and it meets the requirements of this rule.
(c) Customers shall be notified of the price charged for any packaged wine or heavy beer and any service charges for the supply of glasses, chilling, or wine service.
(d) A licensee or his employee may not misrepresent the price of any alcoholic beverage that is sold or offered for sale on the licensed premises.
R81-4A-13. Identification Badge.
Each employee of the licensee who sells, dispenses or provides alcoholic beverages shall wear a unique identification badge visible above the waist, bearing the employee's first name, initials, or a unique number in letters or numbers not less than 3/8 inch high. The identification badge must be worn on the front portion of the employee's body. The licensee shall maintain a record of all employee badges assigned, which shall be available for inspection by any peace officer, or representative of the department. The record shall include the employee's full name and address and a driver's license or similar identification number.
R81-4A-14. Brownbagging.
When private social functions or privately hosted events, as defined in 32A-1-105(47), are held on the premises of a licensed restaurant, the proprietor may, in his or her discretion, allow members of the private group to bring onto the restaurant premises, their own alcoholic beverages under the following circumstances:
(1) When the entire restaurant is closed to the general public for the private function or event, or
(2) When an entire room or area within the restaurant such as a private banquet room is closed to the general public for the private function or event, and members of the private group are restricted to that area, and are not allowed to co-mingle with public patrons of the restaurant.
R81-4A-15. Grandfathered Bar Structures.
(1) Authority and Purpose.
(a) This rule is pursuant to 32A-4-106(7)(a)(i) which provides that:
(i) a bar structure, as defined in 32A-1-105(4), located in a currently licensed restaurant as of May 11, 2009, may be "grandfathered" to allow alcoholic beverages to continue to be stored or dispensed at the bar structure, and in some instances to be served to an adult patron seated at the bar structure;
(ii) a bar structure in a restaurant that is not operational as of May 12, 2009, may be similarly "grandfathered" if, as of May 12, 2009:
(A) a person has applied for a restaurant license from the commission;
(B) the person is "actively engaged in the construction of the restaurant" as defined by commission rule; and
(C) the person is granted a restaurant liquor license by the commission no later than December 31, 2009.
(b) This rule is also pursuant to 32A-4-106(7)(a)(ii) which provides that:
(i) a "grandfathered bar structure" is no longer "grandfathered" once the restaurant "remodels the grandfathered bar structure"; and
(ii) the commission shall define by rule what is meant by "remodels the grandfathered bar structure".
(2) Application of Rule.
(a) "Actively engaged in the construction of the restaurant" for purposes of 32A-4- 106(7)(a)(i)(B)(I)(Bb) and 32A-4-106(7)(a)(ii) means that:
(i) a building permit has been obtained to build the restaurant; and
(ii) a construction contract has been executed and the contract includes an estimated date that the restaurant will be completed; or
(iii) work has commenced by the applicant on the construction of the restaurant and a good faith effort is made to complete the construction in a timely manner.
(b) "remodels the grandfathered bar structure" for purposes of 32A-4-106(7)(a)(ii) means that:
(i) the grandfathered bar structure has been altered or reconfigured to:
(A) extend the length of the existing structure to increase its seating capacity; or
(B) increase the visibility of the storage or dispensing area to restaurant patrons.
(c) "remodels the grandfathered bar structure" does not:
(i) preclude making cosmetic changes or enhancements to the existing structure such as painting, staining, tiling, or otherwise refinishing the bar structure;
(ii) preclude locating coolers, sinks, plumbing, cooling or electrical equipment to an existing structure; or
(iii) preclude utilizing existing space at the existing bar structure to add additional seating.
(d) Pursuant to 32A-4-106(6), the licensee must first apply for and receive approval from the department for a change of location where alcohol is stored, served, and sold other than what was originally designated in the licensee's application for the license. Thus, any modification of the alcoholic beverage storage and dispensing area at a "grandfathered bar structure" must first be reviewed and approved by the department to determine whether it is:
(i) an acceptable use of an existing bar structure; or
(ii) a remodel of a "grandfathered bar structure".
KEY
alcoholic beverages
Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment
June 24, 2009
Notice of Continuation
September 6, 2006
Authorizing, Implemented, or Interpreted Law
32A-1-107; 32A-4-106(7)(a)(i)(B)(I)(Bb); 32A-4-106(7)(a)(ii)
Rule converted into HTML by the Division of Administrative Rules.
For questions regarding the content or application of rules under Title R81, please contact the promulgating agency (Alcoholic Beverage Control, Administration). A list of agencies with links to their homepages is available at http://www.utah.gov/government/agencylist.html or from http://www.rules.utah.gov/contact/agencycontacts.htm.
For questions about the rulemaking process, please contact the Division of Administrative Rules (801-538-3764). Please Note: The Division of Administrative Rules is not able to answer questions about the content or application of these rules.
The HTML version of this rule is a convenience copy made available on the Internet as a public service. Please see the State of Utah Terms of Use.
