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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Despite Utah's reputation as a sober state, the amount of alcohol sold has increased significantly in the last decade, raising more tax dollars as well as questions about a cultural shift.
Experts said more tourists are a factor, especially since the 2002 Winter Olympics. The state's population also has risen more than 10 percent to 2.5 million since the 2000 census.
The amount of alcoholic beverages sold at restaurants or state liquor stores added up to 5.13 million gallons for the 12-month period ending June 30, compared to 3.17 million gallons in 1996 -- a 62 percent increase, according to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
"Now it seems like every day is the day before Christmas" at state-run liquor stores, said Kenneth Wynn, who heads the department.
Wine led by volume with 2.32 million gallons sold. The amount of rum and beer sold has more than doubled since 1996.
The statistics do not include low-alcohol beer, known as 3.2 percent beer, sold at grocery stores and other retail outlets. Those numbers would push beer consumption even higher.
"After the Olympics, we were discovered," Wynn said. "The Sundance Film Festival got bigger. It used to be that after Sundance, it would slow down here and my guys in the warehouse could take some time off.
"But it isn't that way anymore," he said.
State and local governments are benefiting from more booze. Sales taxes split between the two rose to $47 million in the 2006 fiscal year, compared to $22 million in 1996.
School lunch programs also get a 13 percent tax on sales at state liquor stores. The most recent figure was $20.5 million.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the dominant faith in Utah, discourages alcohol use by its members. But the percentage of residents who are Mormon has dropped to 71 percent from 75 percent, and not all consider themselves "very active," according to poll data cited by the Deseret Morning News.
State tourism chief Leigh von der Esch said there has been an increase in the number of restaurants with liquor licenses.
"I enjoy an occasional glass of wine," she said. "The selection in most restaurants is much better than it was years ago, so maybe more people decide to enjoy a drink."
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Information from the Deseret Morning News: http://www.deseretnews.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
