Liquor licenses in Utah hard to come by

Utah business owners who hope to get a license to serve mixed drinks may be waiting a very long time.

Jess Wilkerson says he was forced to buy a license from a business that was closing so his sports bar could serve alcohol.

The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is completely out of bar licenses and will probably offer three or fewer licenses next year.

The DABC offers about one license for every ten-thousand people in Utah, and prefers to give those to businesses in traditionally under-served areas.

Business owners are encouraging the state to increase the number of licenses offered, warning that the DABC may face more lawsuits from businesses that wish to serve alcohol to their customers.

Wilkerson says the state will have to start offering more liquor licenses soon or face the consequences from angry business owners.