The State currently operates 44 liquor stores. These stores are located in large and medium-sized communities where the volume of business is high enough to support the costs of operating a store. The State owns 38 stores and leases the other six. Employees working in the stores are state employees.
Package agencies are liquor outlets operated by private individuals or corporate entities under contract with the state for the purpose of selling packaged liquor, wine and heavy beer to the general public for off premise consumption. Package agencies are located in communities too small to warrant the establishment of a state store, and in resorts and hotels where the outlets exist primarily for the benefit of their guests. Package agencies are also located in Utah some breweries, wineries, and distilleries.
During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $30,782,700 from all sources for Stores and Agencies. This is a 0.8 percent reduction from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources.
In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:
The funding for the Stores and Agencies of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control comes from the Liquor Control Fund and the Markup Holding Fund.
COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.