A new Utah bill went into effect in January 2026. Now, if you’re convicted of an extreme DUI (driving under the influence), you cannot buy alcohol for a period of time. However, it does more than that. It fundamentally changes the way alcohol is being sold in the state.
Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about Utah’s updated alcohol laws.
An extreme DUI is when you have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.16 or higher. That’s 3.2 times higher than the minimum BAC standard of 0.05.
When HB0437 went into effect, it made it so alcohol vendors cannot sell alcohol to anyone considered “interdicted.” This is a category that you are put into if you are convicted of an extreme DUI. You are required to obtain a unique driver’s license or ID card, which indicates that you are in this category.
Every time you purchase alcohol, you are required to get your ID checked by the vendor. If they see that you are interdicted, they cannot sell alcohol to you.
Under the new Utah laws, courts are required to designate people as “interdicted” when they are convicted of an extreme DUI. However, they also give courts the power to put people in that category if they are convicted of any DUI offense. They don’t have to, but they can.
If you don’t want to be interdicted for a regular DUI, your attorney may be of assistance. They can plead your case before a judge and explain why interdiction isn’t necessary.
Another way this affects other people is that everyone is now required to get their ID checked when they buy alcohol. Before the law went into effect, stores only had to ask for your ID if you didn’t look older than 35. Now, you can be over 100 years old, and you will still need to have your ID checked when you buy alcohol.
Whether you are interdicted for an extreme DUI or a regular DUI, the standard for the length of time remains the same. It cannot extend further than any kind of probation that you are serving.
However, there is a chance that the interdiction period is shorter. If your lawyer is able to convince the court that a lengthy sentence as an interdicted person isn’t necessary, the judge may lessen the time.
Courts being required to consider you interdicted isn’t the only extra consequence of an extreme DUI — as opposed to a standard conviction. Here are some differences for a first offense:
All DUI offenses have minimum jail time. For a standard DUI, it’s a minimum of 2 days in jail or 48 hours in a compensatory-service work program. For an extreme DUI, it’s a minimum of five days in jail or two days in jail plus 30 days of home confinement.
Someone with an extreme DUI is required to go through probation. A standard DUI conviction may include probation, but it’s ultimately up to the court.
This is a device in your car that you have to blow into. If the device detects alcohol, the car does not start. This is mandatory for extreme DUI convictions unless the court determines that it’s not necessary. For standard DUIs, it’s not automatically required unless you were previously convicted of the crime within 10 years.
If you’re accused of a DUI, it’s more than likely during a traffic stop. Officers may think they have probable cause to arrest you, and you may think they don’t. If they arrest you, it’s important to comply and not argue your case there. Not only does it look good to have a calm temperament, you don’t want to say something incriminating that ends up on the officer’s body camera.
You should refrain from telling your side of the story until you’ve explained it to your lawyer. This is someone who knows the law and is highly motivated to make sure that you get the best outcome possible.
If the facts of the case are overwhelmingly against you, it’s up to your lawyer to work with prosecutors to make sure that your consequences aren’t too harsh. This may include reducing the amount of time you are considered interdicted or even taking that penalty off the table.
When selecting an attorney to represent you, you’re going to want someone who has a lot of experience defending clients who have been accused of similar crimes. This means they have already learned everything they need to know before taking on your case.
For DUIs, the best lawyers at Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat include Kristin Wilson, Staci Visser Michael Meszaros, and James Bradshaw. They all have years of experience, and they would be happy to help you out.
To get started, tell us about your case, and we’ll reach out to you with more information.
