To be precise, for the first time in history, annual sales of beer, wine and spirits reached $500.32 million in fiscal 2020, ended June 30. That would be a 4.38% increase over the prior fiscal year, according to the Utah Department of Beverage Alcohol Control.
The growth would have been stronger, officials said, except the legislature allowed grocery and convenience stores to sell strong beer — 5% alcohol by volume, up from 4%.
Despite the higher dollar sales, bottle sales actually decreased 6.81% to 48.37 million million. But the average price per bottle rose 12%, explaining the increase in sales.