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Richard Piatt Reporting Utah alcohol sales have gone up a whopping 62 percent in the last ten years; that's in spite of the state's reputation as a difficult place to get a drink. So who's doing the drinking and who's making the money?
Utah's 10-year boost in booze sales is dramatic, but retail sales of liquor, wine and heavy beer are only part of the equation.
Utah is growing. It's population is more diverse. More tourists come to enjoy what the state has to offer. And, almost as a barometer of the state's economy, this week's Outdoor Retailer show will bring in thousands of people all at once.
Scott Beck, Salt Lake Convention, Visitors Bureau: "Convention delegates are a lot more like tourists than people think, and there is a direct connection between the consumption of alcohol and the tourism industry."
There is also a tie between alcohol consumption and a state that's changing. Since 1996, consumption has gone up 62 percent overall in Utah. What that means is more people are drinking non 3-2, or heavy beer, 139 percent more. Rum, wine, vodka, tequila--all are selling much more in 2006 than they were in 1996.
The result means a fatter government treasury. Tax money helps everything from schools to sewer districts. Together, local and state governments will get 47 million dollars, 118 percent more than a decade ago.
Part of the increase in state profits are because of the cost of wine is higher now, but there is also greater appeal for liquor. For example, you can get vodka in orange, lemon, lime, even hot pepper. Fancy, boutique liqueurs and wines are getting more popular, and the state wine stores are among the only places you can get them.
Richard Bringhurst, Wine Store Manager: "We'd like to attribute it to our expert staff and customer service, but I think it's just that the products have become more popular."
In spite of the spike in sales, Utah still consumes less alcohol than any other state. It's interesting to note that, in spite of an increase in heavy beer sales, overall beer sales are down over the last ten years, by just under 5 percent.
