Utah has kicked off 2026 with a new law targeting repeat drunk driving offenders by restricting their ability to purchase alcohol. Specifically, those convicted of 'extreme DUI', defined as a blood alcohol content of 0.16 or above, or if they had alcohol plus other illegal substances in their system, are now unable to buy alcohol, ABC4 reports. In addition to this restriction, the law mandates that all IDs be checked for alcohol purchases, regardless of a person's apparent age.
Businesses, on the other hand, are weighing in on the potential challenges the law introduces. Connor Czapla, a worker at a business that serves alcohol, conveyed his concern about the practicality of enforcement, particularly on busy nights. “It's either put a stamp on you or wear a wristband, but stamps can be washed off, they can be ripped off. There are plenty of ways around that,” Czapla told KUTV. The repercussions of non-compliance fall on the establishments and servers, who risk fines and the loss of liquor licenses.
Under the new law, individuals convicted of such offenses will now be required to carry a state-issued ID with a clear "no alcohol sale" marking. According to Michelle Schmitt, communications director with Utah's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services, this step is entirely new for the state and symbolizes a stricter stance on alcohol-related offenses. "An individual is deemed interdicted only at the discretion of a judge in the court of law," Schmitt explained, as reported by ABC4.
Advocates who have lost loved ones to drunk driving incidents are voicing support for the legislation. Glendon Mitchell, who became actively involved in supporting DUI victims after his grandson was killed by a drunk driver, praised the law as significant for preventing further tragedies. He stated, "Can you imagine if our driver, with five prior DUIs, would have had a restriction on his license so he couldn't be in a bar drinking? Maybe the outcome would have been completely different for him and for us," in an interview with ABC4.
Meanwhile, Utah state Sen. Jerry Stevenson, who was behind the bill, emphasized the need for new solutions to an old problem. "We've been trying to solve it the same way for a long while. It has not worked,” Stevenson told ABC3340. The introduction of this law aims to dynamically reduce the incidence of repeat DUI offenses by making it more challenging for those with a history to access alcohol.
