Bar & Restaurant Expo 2026: Utah Leads Nationally with Impressive Responsible Drinking Statistics

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

By Scott Kraft, Technology Producer – TechTalk, Richard Berk, Executive Producer

Quick archive note: If you’re looking for our older Nightclub & Bar Show pieces, remember it became the Bar & Restaurant Expo in 2022—same great focus on hospitality innovation!

The Utah Channel 3 crew (Scott Kraft and Richard Berk) is geared up for the Bar & Restaurant Expo 2026, March 23-25 in Las Vegas. This milestone 40th-year event brings together thousands of industry leaders to discover tools and ideas that drive success, and we’re eager to see how they complement Utah’s exemplary record on responsible alcohol enjoyment.

Utah continues to shine as a national leader in positive alcohol outcomes. Recent data highlights our low binge drinking rate among adults at around 12.8%—well below the U.S. average of 17%. Heavy drinking stands at just 5%, compared to higher national figures, and per capita alcohol consumption remains the lowest in the country at approximately 1.35 gallons. These impressive numbers reflect the effectiveness of Utah’s balanced, community-focused approach.

Youth statistics are equally encouraging: Past-month alcohol use among those aged 12-20 is only about 7.6%, with binge drinking even lower at 2.9%—far outperforming national trends. High school current alcohol use hovers around 8%, dramatically under the U.S. rate of nearly 30%. Alcohol-related fatalities and DUI incidents have trended downward, supported by policies like our pioneering 0.05 BAC limit, which has contributed to safer roads since its implementation.

At the expo, we’ll highlight tech that reinforces these successes—such as measured-pour systems, patron education apps, and safety-focused devices that promote moderation without sacrificing fun. Utah’s strong results prove that responsibility and enjoyment go hand in hand, and this event offers great opportunities to share best practices nationwide.

We’re all in for full coverage this year. Utah’s leadership in responsible drinking is something to celebrate—join us in spotlighting how innovation keeps it thriving!

Scott Kraft is the Technology Producer for Utah Channel 3. He is a degreed Electrical Engineer that applies engineering testing/procedures to products that are of technical interest to those participating in sporting activities in Southern Utah.

Richard Berk is the Executive Producer for Utah Channel 3. Richard’s field of expertise is the medical field and covers medical conventions when he is not producing Utah Channel 3 content. Richard also shares the passion of outdoor sports as do all members of BHTV.