Increasing alcohol limits in Utah beer gets Senate support

The Utah Senate is approving a proposal to raise low alcohol limits for beer sold at grocery and convenience stores.

The measure easily passed on Monday even though it’s opposed by the influential Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and local brewers who say it unfairly upends their business model.

The proposal would increase the alcohol limit from 3.2 percent to 4.8 percent by weight, the amount in most standard production-line beers.

Most other states have shed similar limitations, spurring some large brewers to stop making lower-alcohol products for a diminished market of just two states.

Republican sponsor Sen. Jerry Stevenson says the measure is business bill that will allow store owners to keep their shelves stocked.

It must pass one more vote in the Senate before going to the House of Representatives.