Posted on 01/03/2026 11:24:13 PM PST by nickcarraway
A law going into effect at the beginning of 2026 will allow judges to restrict those convicted of ‘extreme DUI’ from purchasing alcohol, and ABC4 spoke to a family who lost a loved one to a drunk driver about the new law.
Michelle Schmitt, communications director with Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS), said that the new law will require everyone to have their IDs checked, regardless of age or appearance, but more than that, it will restrict people convicted of “extreme DUI” from purchasing alcohol.
“An extreme DUI is when someone is found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.16 or higher, or if that individual, in addition to having alcohol in the system, has other illegal substances in their system,” Schmitt said.
That law, H.B. 437, created a new category of individuals who are not allowed to buy alcohol, marking the individuals in the category as ‘interdicted.’ According to the law, anyone convicted of an extreme DUI is required to be deemed interdicted, and anyone convicted of any DUI may be placed in the interdicted category by a judge.
“An individual is deemed interdicted only at the discretion of a judge in the court of law,” Schmitt said, adding that if someone is interdicted, they will be required to get a new state ID that clearly states “no alcohol sale” above the photo.
The law states that the time period someone is interdicted is up to the court. Interestingly, the law also includes text allowing an individual to voluntarily get an ID marking them as interdicted.
In addition to verifying age, employees working at establishments that sell alcohol will need to check the ID for that language before making an alcohol sale.
Schmitt said that this is completely new for Utah, both in terms of the interdicted category and requiring 100% ID checks. Prior to this law, establishments had some discretion in checking IDs if the individual appeared to be above 35 years old.
“If you’re purchasing alcohol, bring your ID, an acceptable form of ID, and if you’re selling or serving alcohol, be sure to make that ID check regardless of age appearance,” Schmitt concluded.
According to the DABS website, passports will not be changed to include an interdicted notation, and they remain a valid form of ID to purchase alcohol.
Eli Mitchell’s family
Eli Mitchell was 13 years old when he was hit by a drunk driver while riding his bike in 2022. The driver, Mason Ohms, later pleaded guilty to killing Eli, and Ohms had a long history of alcohol-related offenses prior to the hit and run, including multiple DUIs.
Glendon Mitchell is Eli’s grandfather, and since Eli’s death, he has been working with other DUI victims to help them move through the legal process, which can be painful and difficult.
About the law, he said, “I think that’s pretty significant for people who have a problem controlling themselves with drinking and driving.”
Remembering Eli Mitchell, West Jordan boy killed in hit-and-run crash Glendon said that in court, they learned that the driver was over the legal limit of 0.05 by “multiple times” and that he had a history of multiple DUIs.
“Can you imagine if our driver, with five prior DUIs, would have had a restriction on his license so he couldn’t be in a bar drinking? Maybe the outcome would have been completely different for him and for us, so I think it’s very important,” he said.
He expressed his thanks for the legislature in passing this law. “I think victims in general, especially DUI victims, are very grateful for the legislature in taking these matters very seriously, so thanks to them. It’s not an easy process to get laws changed, so huge kudos to them,” he said.
He also is grateful that the legislature is tackling the issue of fake IDs by requiring 100% ID check, but he also said that we cannot rely on the legislature to fix everything, and that as a community, we will have to take the issue of DUI seriously.
Twin Falls woman dies due to injuries sustained during mid-December crash “The challenge that we face as Utahns is that it’s an increasing problem. The consequences are so significant with serious injury, death, property damage, I think it’s become a community problem that we all need to wrap our arms around,” he explained. “The legislature is trying, they can do so much, but I think the community in general… I think we’ve got to start taking this serious, because it’s spiraling out of control.”
He said that people often know when others are driving drunk, and we need to encourage others to make better choices, like calling a ride share service. People can also avoid impaired driving by making a plan before going out.
Laser pointed at helicopter during rescue of hiker at Red Mountain “I have three teenage drivers, and sadly, I think there was a time when we thought most drunk drivers come out late at night… It’s all the time now. I mean, Eli was killed at 6 o’clock at night,” he said.
Glendon stressed that impaired driving, which can cause serious consequences and harm, can start well below the legal limit.
“We’re living a terrible nightmare that I hope would never happen to you or anybody else out there, and if there’s some simple things we can do to try to help turn our tragedy into triumph, that’s what we want to do,” Glendon said.
Won’t work ...they will just get someone else to buy it for them ...
I once saw a clerk in a convenience store ask for an ID from a guy who was obviously 75 or older. It was idiotic, what a waste of everyone’s time. Stupid laws like that do nothing but foster disrespect for the law. If the law can’t exhibit common sense then people won’t respect it.
If they live alone it makes it harder. Praying this kind of restriction goes national. ..But even more important is that they NEVER again be allowed to drive.
Then they will throw that person in jail.
My son was smoking before he was of age. He would stand outside the convenience store and as strangers to buy them for him. They had no problem doing so. My son gave them the money and the transaction was complete. This will happen with alcohol, too. Go ahead and give it a try. Maybe it will work with 10% of the cases.
Psst, it ain’t that hard to make beer and wine at home. Also, moonshine is a thing. No I am NOT advocating drinking and driving, just pointing out that those this law is aimed at will find a way around it. Would perhaps be better if it included some counseling and rehabilitation provisions. We tried a similar approach once and it didn’t work out that well.
Were those people helping your son?
license permanently revoked. never be allowed to drive again period.
Yeah, I wonder if Utah has a DUI related “revoke driver’s license” for a period of time or permanently...before they move to the new “no purchase of alcohol” provision, seems kind of legally “iffy”/unconstitutional. If a person’s drivers license is revoked and they are not allowed to drive then not allowing alcohol purchases seems like it could be litigated.
That was my first thought too.
Just last weekend, I was at a gas station when a young woman of 18-19 was desperately soliciting other customers to go inside the store an buy her a “vape.” Four or 5 people whom she asked turned her down, so she decamped for another station across the road. She was just unlucky, I guess, as she had the misfortune of soliciting a bunch of middle-aged stiffs like myself.
Pretty easy to have a friend blow into it--but maybe today's tech has some kind of camera attachment.
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Starting and Turning Off Your Vehicle
Before you can start your vehicle, you need to submit a clean breath sample into the device. Your car will not start if you attempt to do so before submitting a sample, and in a few states, it could be recorded as an unauthorized attempt to start your vehicle.
Some states treat unauthorized attempts as a violation. If you do try to start the vehicle before following this step, take the key out of the ignition and wait for the countdown on the breathalyzer to expire before attempting to start your vehicle.
When you blow into your ignition interlock, the device will analyze your sample to determine your breath alcohol concentration (BrAC). If your sample is within your state’s legal limits, the screen will display your BrAC or a pass, warning or failed message, depending on your state’s requirements.
The unit will then display “PASSED START CAR,” and you will have a two–three-minute countdown to start your car. If the countdown expires before you start the vehicle, you will need to submit another breath sample. If your BrAC is above the state limit, your vehicle will not start. State law varies, and you might get locked out of your device for one or more failed attempts to start your vehicle.
When you arrive at your destination and shut off your vehicle, check your Intoxalock to ensure a random retest isn’t required. Even if your car is no longer running, you must take the test to prevent a possible lock out, if it is prompting you for one.
If people stopped neglecting God and His self control, there would be less out of control people causing various issues and harms. Laws only hinder a few of the out of control people while inconveniencing more innocent people
As a kids those I ran with never had a problem getting alcohol or cigarettes. Fast forward to today, and druggies have no problem getting drugs.
My point is this law is useless. If the problem centers around DUI’s, then permanently revoke driving privileges.
They do that for cigarettes too. Saw an 80 yr old, or there about, be asked for his license and they ran it through a scanner. His crime? He bought a pack of cigarettes. Ridiculous.
Exactly..may as well ad to this idiotic bill that folks with illegal guns can’t buy ammo.
Won’t work either. There’s a ton of people driving without a driver’s license.
Half measures are all BS with no results.
This surely will be challenged on court. Utah is getting involved in commerce. It should stick to driving regulation instead and not issue a license.
I smart drunk will use some other ID like a passport.
EC
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