Alcohol privatization and control policy considerations in Utah: A new framework for classifying alcohol policy by retail structure

Classifying state alcohol policies as either “control” or “private” presents a practical challenge for assessing alcohol consumption and related health outcomes, as these classifications reflect the level of government involvement in the wholesale distribution of alcohol rather than how alcohol is sold to consumers. Retail restrictions vary independently from policy classification. Utah, a control state, allows the sale of light beer in grocery stores. All other alcohol is sold in designated liquor stores.  Contract stores, a separate retail classification, are licensed to provide alcohol for smaller communities and resorts/hotels. Discussion of changing alcohol legislation in Utah led to this study.

A Health Impact Assessment (HIA) analyzed and grouped states into four categories of alcohol control. Each category’s aggregate data was examined to find related health outcomes.

Each of the four categories included states originally labeled “control” and “privatized.” Full retail states had increased consumption and alcohol injuries. Partial retail states had the same level of per capita consumption as no-retail states but a higher societal cost per drink per capita. Low retail states had better health outcomes than full and partial retail states, except for binge drinking trends. No-retail states had the highest cost to society from excessive alcohol consumption and the highest percent of binge drinking.

It is recommended that states be classified according to retail structure, rather than using “control” or “privatized” labels, to provide a more representative platform for analyzing health outcomes. In discussing proposed Utah legislation, stakeholders should balance both projected health outcomes and economic gains.