Buy beer in Utah? The cashier must now check your ID every single time, no exceptions

Utah marks IDs to stop alcohol sales

Utah took an unusual step on Jan. 1, 2026. A new law now marks the state IDs of certain DUI offenders with a red “NO ALCOHOL SALE” banner — making their restriction visible every time they try to buy a drink.

The law, formally called the Interdicted Person Amendments, also requires every alcohol seller in the state to check ID for every single purchase, no exceptions.

A boy’s death pushed this law forward

On April 26, 2022, 13-year-old Eli Mitchell was riding his bike home from a grocery store in West Jordan, Utah. He was hit and killed in a crosswalk by a driver who fled the scene.

That driver, Mason Ohms, had multiple prior DUI convictions. Court records show Ohms had been drinking at a bar for about six hours before the crash.

Eli’s grandfather, Glendon Mitchell, became one of the law’s leading advocates.

Rep. Eliason carried the bill through

Rep. Steve Eliason championed the bill, and the Utah Legislature passed it in February 2025. The law creates a new legal category called “interdicted person” for certain DUI offenders.

Those designated as interdicted are banned from buying alcohol for a court-determined period.

Their state-issued driver license or ID is replaced with one showing a prominent red “NO ALCOHOL SALE” banner above their photo.

Two types of DUI can trigger interdiction

Utah law defines extreme DUI two ways. The first is a blood or breath alcohol level of .16 or higher. The second is a level of .05 or higher combined with any measurable controlled substance in the system.

Anyone convicted under either definition must be designated as interdicted — judges have no power to waive it. For standard DUI convictions, judges may still choose to designate someone as interdicted based on the case.

Getting the new ID takes several steps

Once a court designates someone as interdicted, that person must surrender their current license or state ID to the court. They then apply for a replacement through the Utah Driver License Division.

The new ID shows a red banner at the top reading “NO ALCOHOL SALE.” Temporary documents carry the same message in black and white.

After the interdiction period ends, the person must apply and pay for a new standard ID. It does not switch back automatically.

Every buyer must now show an ID

Before this law, sellers could skip the ID check if a buyer looked older than 35. That discretion is gone.

House Bill 437 requires all businesses licensed to sell alcohol to check ID for every purchase. Bars, restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, state liquor stores, and event venues all fall under the rule.

The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services calls this the “100% ID Law.”

Passports create a gap in the system

Passports are still a valid form of ID to buy alcohol in Utah, but they will not carry any interdiction notation. That means an interdicted person could use a passport to buy alcohol without the restriction showing.

The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services has publicly acknowledged this limitation. Staff are instructed to look for the “NO ALCOHOL SALE” language on Utah-issued credentials specifically.

Passports fall outside that check.

Extreme DUI is more common than many think

In 2024, about 35% of all DUI arrests in Utah fell into the extreme DUI category, according to the Utah Highway Patrol. That works out to roughly 2,899 arrests at that level in a single year.

Utah already has the lowest legal blood alcohol limit in the country at .05, lowered from .08 in late 2018. The extreme DUI threshold of .16 is more than three times that limit.

Old convictions don’t qualify for the new ID

The law only applies to new convictions going forward. People previously convicted of extreme DUI will not automatically get an interdicted ID.

The Utah Driver License Division began issuing the new IDs in January 2026, but very few were in circulation when the law first took effect. That number will grow as new cases move through the courts.

The driver who killed Eli now seeks parole

Mason Ohms, the driver who killed Eli Mitchell, is currently being considered for parole. He has served about three years and nine months of a sentence that could reach 20 years.

Eli’s parents spoke at the parole hearing and urged the board to deny release. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole has not yet announced a decision.

The Mitchell family continues to push for stronger DUI laws in the state.

What Utah residents need to know now

Anyone buying alcohol in Utah must carry a valid ID every time, no exceptions.

Acceptable forms include a U.S. driver license, state ID, passport, or U.S. military ID with a photo and birth date.

Extreme DUI offenders now face a consequence that goes beyond fines and jail time — their restriction shows on their ID. Vendors who sell to a known interdicted person face legal liability under the new law.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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