Commissioners approved publication of a rule that would require the labels on all alcohol-containing drinks in the state to clearly read either "beer" or "alcoholic beverage" to avoid confusion for customers who may unknowingly purchase beverages, particularly energy drinks, that contain alcohol.

"It has to clearly put the public on notice that it is an alcoholic beverage," said Earl Dorius, the DABC's regulatory director, who drafted the proposed rule.

The group also voted to recommend legislation that would require retailers selling beer, malted beverages or alcohol-containing energy drinks to display signs warning consumers that the drinks may contain alcohol.

Though he declined Friday to take a formal position on the proposed rules or potential legislation, Jim Olsen, president of the Utah Food Industry Association, said he would prefer that the commission refrain from making the changes.

"Obviously, we want to keep it the way it is," Olsen said. "We don't think the consumers are all that confused."

In addition to the malt-beverage issue, the commission moved Friday to recommend that lawmakers reconfigure the number of various liquor licenses that are available in the state.

They declined to increase the overall number of licenses, instead moving to reduce the number of private club and tavern licenses in order to make more limited licenses available. A limited license allows restaurateurs to serve beer and wine and are limited by population figures.

Commissioners voted to recommend the one license per 11,000 people be changed to one per 9,300 people, which would make 45 more limited licenses available. The commission has issued 44 such licenses since August 2006.

Commissioner Mary Ann Mantes voted against the measure, saying she would prefer instead to do away with the limits, as recommended last month by former DABC director Ken Wynn, who recently retired after leading the agency for nearly 30 years.

"Personally, I would like to remove the quotas for the limited licenses altogether," Mantes said. "People don't go to restaurants and get drunk. They have a glass of wine or beer and they eat dinner."

---

E-mail: awelling@desnews.com