Good morning from the DABC commission meeting! We're still virtual, but mix yourself up a little something and follow along as I live-tweet this sucker. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
Utah's per capita alcohol consumption rate remains the lowest in the nation, per Doug Murakami (who leads the DABC's Parents Empowered anti-youth drinking program).

@fox13 #utpol #utliquor
DABC flying through violations and granting extended closures for bars with construction issues, etc. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
Moab's Atomic Bar just got a lengthy extension because of A LOT of @UtahDOT construction in that area.

DABC actually gave the owner MORE time. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
Because of the ongoing problem of bar license quotas (that the #utleg did NOT address this year), the DABC has started to "triage" who is ready to open when they award coveted licenses. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
Here's how many liquor licenses are available in Utah right now. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
The owner of Rye is pleading for a liquor license, saying that a full bar license (they currently have a full restaurant license) can help save their business in this climate. They're switching up their business model and current license is "not sustainable." @fox13 #utpol
Why Kiki in #SLC tried to buy a liquor license, that didn't happen. They've done a lot of kitchen work and plan to open next week.

O-Town Beach Club wants just a summer seasonal license (a temporary one).

"That's all?" Chair Nielsen says, happy. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
Bewilder has had construction delays (like everyone else). Downtown being a ghost town during COVID hasn't helped, either.

That's the ones ready to go for a bar license. We have 3 applicants and 2 licenses. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
DABC commission has to decide who gets the next bar license.

After this, Commissioner Jacobson says the next bar license won't be available until June (based on population quota, unless another bar shuts down). @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
Commissioner Jacobson wants to preserve a license for a rural-area bar that's soon to open (and there's a few there).

Chair Nielsen says they could offer a summer seasonal license. Commissioner Tennert says she doesn't want to hold a license. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
DABC commissioners sound frustrated by the whole situation.

Again, they publicly called on the Utah legislature to fix it (and lawmakers refused: fox13now.com/news/local-new… ) @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
Insult to injury? You get a bar license TODAY and you have to renew it NEXT MONTH.

So you're paying TWICE for the license. Because that's the rules. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
The owner of Why Kiki trying to make a hard sell, arguing that they're near the Salt Palace AND a new #LGBTQ bar downtown.

Not sure that's a strong a selling point to a largely conservative commission... #utpol #utliquor
Chair Nielsen asks if they'll take a summer seasonal? Why Kiki's owner says "we NEED to open."

Commissioner Jacobson says he wants to hold one back for a future rural bar.

Again, the next bar license will NOT be available until June. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
The problem with the summer seasonal means it won't start until May.

Bewildered owner chimes in to say they're interested in summer seasonal.

Applicants gotta make a decision to put all their chips on the table for a bar license... #utpol #utliquor
Why Kiki owner now says he's interested in a summer seasonal license.

Commissioner Jacobson makes a motion to give Rye a bar license and a summer seasonal to Why Kiki (holding the other license). @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
BOOM.

Commission approves Rye as the golden ticket bar license. Why Kiki gets the summer seasonal.

One bar license held over because the next one won't be available until June (based on population quota). @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
Now, the DABC is moving through the restaurant applicants (which are decidedly less controversial).

@fox13 #utpol #utliquor
Licenses handed out.

Now, the DABC commission is getting an operations update.

Executive Director Tiffany Clason updating them on the legislative session. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
SB137 gives pay raises to DABC employees.

@GovCox appointed Tara Thue to the DABC (replacing Sophia DiCaro). Her Senate vote is next month.

@fox13 #utpol #utliquor
The DABC needs YOU! They have 4 openings on the advisory board (which takes public input). Need reps for restaurant, wholesale alcohol, alcohol prevention groups represented. 4-year terms.

Interested? Send resume and letter to DABC by April 30. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
Chair Nielsen asks if advisory board members can be re-appointed? Yes, but Dir. Clason says she'd encourage new people to join, too.

Chair Nielsen says overall, #utleg session had good advancements for alcohol policy.

@fox13 #utpol #utliquor
Deputy DABC director Cade Meier says Farmington liquor store is now OPEN!

Taylorsville store coming along nicely (anticipated opening in May). @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
The Farmington store is part of the DABC's new concepts, including better shelving and a special section for BOXED WINE.

We know what y'all are drinking, Davis County. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
Now the financials.

DABC is reporting a 15% DECREASE in bottle sales (about 5.3 million bottles) and a $1.9 million INCREASE in retail sales (about .58%). @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
Financial analyst says this is the impact of beer going to grocery/convenience stores.

Costs of stuff in DABC stores have also gone up (which is passed on to consumer). @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
DABC expenses have also gone up (they're upgrading systems).

A reminder: liquor sales go to public safety, school lunches for needy kids and the general fund. @fox13 #utpol #utliquor
That's the commission meeting. A recap from @kathystephenson and I on the "Utah Booze News" podcast dropping this week! @fox13 #utpol #utliquor

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More from @BenWinslow

30 Mar
JUST IN: @UtahDepOfHealth reporting 371 new cases of #COVID19 in Utah today. 4 new deaths. 5,113 new people tested. 29 new hospitalizations. 16,111 new 1st-dose vaccinations. 8,500 new people fully vaccinated. @fox13 #utpol #Utah
Here's the math on #COVID19 in Utah, per @UtahDepOfHealth...
Cases: 385,127 (371 new)
Tested: 2,380,237 (5,113 new)
Hospitalizations: 15,503 (29 new)
Deaths: 2,118 (4 new)
Vaccinated-1st dose: 878,867 (16,111 new)
Vaccinated-Fully: 487,418 (8,500 new)
@fox13 #utpol #Utah
.@UtahDepOfHealth is reporting the rolling 7-day average for positive #COVID19 tests is 424 per day. The rolling 7-day average person/person positivity rate is 6.7%. @fox13 #utpol #Utah
Read 5 tweets
30 Mar
BREAKING NEWS: "Real Housewives of SLC" star Jen Shah and assistant indicted by a federal grand jury on fraud charges.

She has been arrested, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Utah confirms. @fox13 #utpol #Utah
Federal prosecutors out of NYC sought the indictment, accusing Shah and assistant Stewart Smith of telemarketing/wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

She is to appear before a federal judge in SLC today. @fox13 #utpol #Utah
.@TheJusticeDept claims Shah and Smith generated and sold "lead lists" for business opportunities that did not exist, per the indictment.

Shah faces up to 30 years in prison, if convicted of the charges. @fox13 #utpol #Utah
Read 4 tweets
30 Mar
I posted this while I was in the DABC meeting, but @DougallForUtah's audit of the very controversial Banjo contract that @UtahAG had is now out.

It found that Banjo's claims of AI surveillance didn't exactly match up with reality: fox13now.com/news/local-new… @fox13 #utpol #Utah
.@FrugalDougall's audit found that @UtahAG "should have verified these claims before issuing a significant contract and recommending public safety entities to cooperate and open their systems to Banjo."

fox13now.com/news/local-new… @fox13 #utpol #Utah
"The touted example of the system assisting in 'solving' a simulated child abduction was not validated by [ @UtahAG ] and was simply accepted based on Banjo’s representation," @FrugalDougall wrote: fox13now.com/news/local-new… @fox13 #utpol #Utah
Read 8 tweets
30 Mar
.@WeberCounty leaders got a briefing from @WeberMorganHD today as they decide whether or not to issue a new mask mandate once the #COVID19 "endgame" bill goes into effect: fox13now.com/news/coronavir… @fox13 #utpol #Utah
.@WeberMorganHD's director says he's unsure whether they ought to issue a new mask mandate. Vaccinations are up, #COVID19 cases are down.

He's watching the data and will bring it back to the county commission: fox13now.com/news/coronavir… @fox13 #utpol #Utah
One thing @WeberCounty commissioners are considering?

Whether to issue on just for county facilities. They believe businesses have been VERY effective in requiring masks of customers and employees: fox13now.com/news/coronavir… @fox13 #utpol #Utah #COVID19
Read 8 tweets
29 Mar
JUST IN: @UtahDepOfHealth reporting 194 new cases of #COVID19 in Utah today. No new deaths. 2,403 new people tested. 12 new hospitalizations. 2,072 new 1st-dose vaccinations. 1,218 new people fully vaccinated. @fox13 #utpol #Utah
Here's the math on #COVID19 in Utah, per @UtahDepOfHealth...
Cases: 384,756 (194 new)
Tested: 2,375,124 (2,403 new)
Hospitalizations: 15,474 (12 new)
Deaths: 2,114 (0 new)
Vaccinated-1st dose: 862,756 (2,072 new)
Vaccinated-Fully: 478,918 (1,218 new)
@fox13 #utpol #Utah
.@UtahDepOfHealth is reporting the rolling 7-day average for positive #COVID19 tests is 426 per day. The rolling 7-day average person/person positivity rate is 6.9%. @fox13 #utpol #Utah
Read 6 tweets
28 Mar
JUST IN: @UtahDepOfHealth reporting 389 new cases of #COVID19 in Utah today. 13 new deaths. 4,704 new people tested. 21 new hospitalizations. 8,426 new 1st-dose vaccinations. 6,795 new people fully vaccinated. @fox13 #utpol #Utah
Here's the math on #COVID19 in Utah, per @UtahDepOfHealth...
Cases: 384,562 (389 new)
Tested: 2,372,721 (4,704 new)
Hospitalizations: 15,462 (21 new)
Deaths: 2,114 (13 new)
Vaccinated-1st dose: 860,684 (8,426 new)
Vaccinated-Fully: 477,700 (6,795 new)
@fox13 #utpol #Utah
.@UtahDepOfHealth is reporting the rolling 7-day average for positive #COVID19 tests is 422 per day. The rolling 7-day average person/person positivity rate is 7.0%. @fox13 #utpol #Utah
Read 5 tweets

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