Utah Passes Omnibus Alcohol Bill Ahead of Olympics

New law addresses hospitality industry concerns, including proximity to parks and accepting foreign driver's licenses

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Utah's state legislature has passed a new omnibus alcohol bill, House Bill 597, that makes several changes to the state's liquor laws ahead of the upcoming Olympics. The bill addresses concerns from the hospitality industry, including allowing restaurants and hotel bars to be located closer to parks, and permitting the acceptance of foreign driver's licenses at establishments serving alcohol.

Why it matters

With the Olympics coming to Utah, the state wanted to update its alcohol laws to be more accommodating for international visitors and the hospitality industry. The changes aim to strike a balance between community norms around alcohol access and the needs of businesses and tourists.

The details

The key changes in the bill include: allowing restaurants and hotel bars to be located closer to parks after a public review process; permitting the acceptance of foreign driver's licenses at establishments serving alcohol (previously only passports were accepted); and modifying the "70/30 split" rule that limits how much alcohol can make up a restaurant's total sales. The bill also increases penalties for selling alcohol to minors.

  • The omnibus alcohol bill, House Bill 597, was introduced in the Utah state legislature in February 2026.
  • The bill was passed by the legislature ahead of the upcoming 2028 Olympics in Utah.

The players

Rep. Jefferson Burton

The Republican state representative from Salem, Utah who sponsored House Bill 597.

Art Brown

A prominent alcohol abuse prevention advocate on Utah's Capitol Hill who opposes the changes to proximity rules around parks.

Lincoln Shurtz

A representative of the Salt Lake Area Restaurant Association who believes the bill is a "great" compromise for the hospitality industry.

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What they’re saying

“We did talk about the Olympics. We did talk about international travelers. We also understand our demographic is changing and as we urbanize, we're going to have more issues that need to be dealt with.”

— Rep. Jefferson Burton, State Representative (FOX 13 News)

“I think the proximity should stay where it's at. I think we should have a community norm of protecting kids.”

— Art Brown, Alcohol Abuse Prevention Advocate (FOX 13 News)

“All in all, I think it's a great bill. We're seeing more visitors, trying to make sure we have a balanced approach in our alcohol laws.”

— Lincoln Shurtz, Salt Lake Area Restaurant Association (FOX 13 News)

What’s next

The new omnibus alcohol law will go into effect ahead of the 2028 Olympics in Utah, providing updated rules for the hospitality industry and international visitors.

The takeaway

Utah's updated alcohol laws aim to strike a balance between community norms and the needs of businesses and tourists, as the state prepares to host the 2028 Olympics. The changes reflect the state's evolving demographics and desire to be more welcoming to international visitors.