Actually, in Utah all beer sold in stores has to be less than 3.2%. The 3.2% is a cap, not a specific content. And I am sure the beer distributors LOVE this because it requires a person to consume much more beer to get sufficiently buzzed. In my day, I could consume a case or more of beer singlehandedly while at the beach or camping so that tells you something about the content.
For imports and higher content beers you must purchase them from a state run Liquor Store. Same for wine. See, we don’t sell liquor in supermarkets here (a marvelous idea, liquor in supermarkets…) only beer or malt based “wine coolers”.
And yes, there have been some companies who will not reduce the alchohol content of their beers, so they are ONLY available from a state run Liquor Store. No big deal actually, just an extra stop instead of picking it up at the supermarket with the other beer. My only beef was that the beer in the Liquor Store is not refrigerated, but they always had a GREAT selection.
In the county I live in, you can’t even buy beer on Sunday. (presumably pecause god does not wish even the heathen’s to drink on his day). Whole lotta beer gets sold on Saturday…
But dnot let that cause you to think we don’t consume a LOT of alchohol here in Utah. My brother used to work for the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and although they tried to downplay the amount of consumption per capita it was quite high. I wish I could remember some numbers…
Oh that content numbers game, seems like it is % by volume vs. % by weight, or something like that, I forget.