2026 New Utah ID -- No Alcohol Sale

[Sardines]

Beginning on January 1, 2026, a new law requires all establishments that are licensed to sell alcohol to check the ID for every customer purchasing alcohol, regardless of age appearance. A key distinction to understand is when customer’s ID is required to be electronically scanned. The table below explains which licensees must electronically scan IDs.

Key takeaways:
–Starting Jan. 1, 2026, 100% ID for everyone. This means that all customers purchasing alcohol in Utah, regardless of age appearance, must present an acceptable form of ID for verification.
–Businesses that use ID scanners do not need to replace and can continue using their existing scanners. (The state legislature will consider this piece of the law in their upcoming 2026 General Session. The DABS will update as we learn new information.)
–All businesses that sell alcohol must look for “No Alcohol Sale” language on IDs issued by the state of Utah, to confirm whether the individual is prohibited from purchasing and consuming alcohol.

So this comes along with a requirement that all alcohol sales include an ID check no matter what. I sort of thought this was already a thing but then realized that restaurants do not always check my ID (I'm very obviously over 21).

I think this is a good thing. Judges can order people with alcohol abuse related charges to get an "interdicted" ID that states "No Alcohol Sales" and it is illegal to sell these individuals alcohol. This should make it significantly more difficult for people who are under a court order not to drink to get their hands on alcohol. Clearly it isn't foolproof, as a friend, spouse, etc. can buy a bottle or a 30pk and give it to the person, but it will be almost impossible for that "interdicted" person to go out to a bar, get **** faced, and then drive their car around town. More likely that if they do drink they'll be doing it at home, where they probably should have been doing the majority of their drinking in the first place.

 

[gandalfe]

So this comes along with a requirement that all alcohol sales include an ID check no matter what. I sort of thought this was already a thing but then realized that restaurants do not always check my ID (I'm very obviously over 21).

I think this is a good thing. Judges can order people with alcohol abuse related charges to get an "interdicted" ID that states "No Alcohol Sales" and it is illegal to sell these individuals alcohol. This should make it significantly more difficult for people who are under a court order not to drink to get their hands on alcohol. Clearly it isn't foolproof, as a friend, spouse, etc. can buy a bottle or a 30pk and give it to the person, but it will be almost impossible for that "interdicted" person to go out to a bar, get **** faced, and then drive their car around town. More likely that if they do drink they'll be doing it at home, where they probably should have been doing the majority of their drinking in the first place.

One thing that confuses me about it is that the timeframe for the interdiction seems to be entirely up to the judge's discretion. 30 days? 30 years? Who knows!

Also, do you have to go get a new driver's license with the NO BOOZE line on it, and then go get another one one it expires? Do you have to pay each time? How does the DMV know when it's over?

That being said, I have no problem with the idea of it. I worry about the execution.