Adrienne Bell

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Adrienne J. Bell supports the firm’s Beverage and Hospitality industry team with advice to clients on alcohol licensing and compliance issues. Adrienne, an associate in Stoel Rives’ Real Estate section, practices in the areas of real estate, energy and natural resources law. As well as contributing to the Alcoholic Beverages Law blog, she co-authored an article on changes to Utah’s Alcohol Laws and was interviewed on X96 radio in Salt Lake City on proposed Utah alcohol service and consumption legislation.

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Buying and Selling Liquor Licenses in Utah

By Adrienne Bell and Catherine Parrish Lake on Posted in Uncategorized
Utah’s Transfer of Retail License Act (the “Act”), which becomes effective today, permits the transfer and sale of retail liquor licenses by current retail license holders. Although enacted in 2011, the legislature previously delayed implementing the Act in response to concerns that the creation of a private market for retail licenses would drive up prices … Continue Reading

Utah DABC Abandons “Intent to Dine” Rule

By Adrienne Bell and Catherine Parrish Lake on Posted in Legislation
The DABC unexpectedly decided to forgo adopting an administrative rule interpreting Utah’s “intent to dine” law.  As we discussed previously, the Commission was considering three draft rules that were intended to clarify the steps a restaurant licensee must take to confirm a patron’s intent to order food before a server can furnish an alcoholic drink.  … Continue Reading

“Intent to Dine” Rules under Consideration (Again) in Utah

By Adrienne Bell and Catherine Parrish Lake on Posted in Legislation
The controversy continues over Utah’s so-called “intent to dine” requirement for restaurants licensed to serve alcohol. As we previously discussed, the Utah Legislature amended the law to require restaurants to confirm that a patron has the intent to order food before serving an alcoholic drink. In response to the change, the DABC has proposed three draft rules, … Continue Reading

A Battle is Brewing in Utah over Alcohol Reform

By Adrienne Bell and Catherine Parrish Lake on Posted in Alcohol and Liquor, Legislation
As the Utah Legislature wrapped up its session this week, it appears that a battle is brewing between the House and Senate over alcohol reform. Citing a concern with the “culture of alcohol,” the Senate declined to support many of the measures the House approved this session. The House voted to eliminate the so-called “Zion curtain,” … Continue Reading

Utah Alcohol Legislation Update

By Adrienne Bell and Catherine Parrish Lake on Posted in Alcohol and Liquor, Alcohol Compliance
S.B. 261 passed out of the Senate Business and Labor Committee this morning.  The amendments address many industry concerns we reported on earlier this week.  Notably, the requirement that a patron must be “seated” to be served or consume alcohol has been removed from the bill.  The amendments also clarify that the new enforcement provisions … Continue Reading

Utah Legislature Considers Amendments to Alcohol Beverage Control Act

By Adrienne Bell and Catherine Parrish Lake on Posted in Alcohol Compliance, Legislation
Utah State Senator John Valentine (R) (Orem) has introduced a bill (S.B. 261) that may significantly affect alcohol operations if adopted.  S.B. 261 would require that all restaurant patrons must be “seated” to be served or consume a drink. Current law allows a patron to be served and consume a drink while standing at a counter, … Continue Reading

UPDATE on Utah DABC’s Enforcement Policy

By Adrienne Bell on Posted in Uncategorized
Utah’s liquor control agency has changed its enforcement policy yet again. In an apparent about-face, the agency is returning to its prior policy, which requires evidence of an intent to dine before wait staff can serve drinks to restaurant patrons.  The agency’s head enforcement officer recently confirmed that compliance officers will not cite restaurants that serve … Continue Reading

Utah DABC Changes Alcohol Enforcement Policy

By Adrienne Bell and Catherine Parrish Lake on Posted in Alcohol and Liquor, Alcohol Compliance, Legislation, Uncategorized
Utah’s liquor control agency has started citing restaurants that serve alcoholic drinks to patrons before they order food.  The agency has shifted policy to now strictly interpret a key provision of Utah’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which provides:             A full-service restaurant licensee may not sell, offer for sale, or furnish an alcoholic product except in … Continue Reading

“Master” Liquor Licenses Considered for Utah

By Adrienne Bell and Catherine Parrish Lake on Posted in Alcohol and Liquor
The Utah Legislature’s Business and Labor Interim Committee reviewed a proposal to create a new class of “master” licenses for owners of multiple restaurants to operate under a single liquor license for all locations.  The sponsor of the bill, Senator John Valentine (R, District 14), explained that the intent is to entice restaurant chains to … Continue Reading
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