A new law in Utah requires people convicted of “extreme DUI” to have their driver’s licenses marked with a prominent red stripe and the words “No Alcohol Sale.” On the outside, it may seem like a return to “public shaming” used as a deterrent, yet drinking and driving was the cause for 12,429 deaths in 2023.
Between 2019 and 2022, Utah saw a staggering 89% increase in drunk driving deaths, one of the highest jumps in the nation. This surge was fueled by a nationwide “crisis on our roads” during the pandemic years, where decreased traffic led to a sharp rise in high-speed reckless driving and a higher prevalence of drivers operating vehicles with extreme levels of impairment.
This rise persuaded lawmakers that the old “honor system” at liquor stores and bars was no longer enough, and the problem has only become clearer as more people recognize that anyone who knowingly gets behind the wheel after drinking is endangering both themselves and everyone else on the road.
The new state law is focused on what they deem as extreme DUI. According to Utah State Code §41-6a-501(1)(f), an extreme DUI is defined by a specific set of high-risk factors. This includes any instance where a driver records a blood-alcohol level of 0.16 or higher, or a level of 0.05 combined with any measurable controlled substance.
To put these numbers in perspective, reaching a 0.16 blood alcohol content typically involves an average 180-pound man consuming six to eight standard drinks within two hours, or a 120-pound woman consuming three to four drinks in that same window. For a typical male adult, around two to three drinks is pretty normal in a span of two hours.
Of the 12,429 lives lost to drunk driving in 2023, an estimated two-thirds involved at least one driver with a BAC of 0.15 or higher — nearly double the standard legal limit.
The designation also applies to drivers found with a combination of two or more illegal or non-prescribed controlled substances in their system, excluding those used in accordance with the state’s medical cannabis laws.
This law doesn’t affect those who drink for leisure or fun; it affects those who turn a vehicle, a tool for transportation, into an uncontrolled and deadly weapon. It also requires special identification and labels for interdicted persons to be placed on the driver’s license or identification card.
While Utah already leads the nation in moderation — with residents spending a nation-low average of $607 on alcohol in 2024 — this law ensures that the state’s culture of responsibility isn’t undermined by those who have proven they cannot handle the privilege.
It’s a consequence of their clouded decision-making, but it isn’t permanent. Under the new law, the interdiction period — how long the alcohol‑purchase prohibition lasts — will depend on the court’s determination and the statute’s provisions.
The statute gives courts discretion, and the length depends on the severity of the offense and court findings. For a voluntary interdicted person, the minimum is 30 days.
On average, approximately 25% to 33% of first-time DUI offenders will be re-arrested or charged with a second DUI, with some estimates suggesting long-term recidivism rates can reach as high as 50% over 10 years — showing the need for this sort of retribution.
By placing the burden of accountability directly in the offender’s wallet, Utah is empowering businesses to act as a final line of defense. As Rep. Steve Eliason (R-UT) noted, the goal is to make life “more difficult” for those who refuse to self-regulate.
Having safe roads to drive on is a human right, and a key pillar in assuring public safety — while owning a driver’s license is a privilege, and should only be used while sober.
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If the minor inconvenience of a red-striped ID prevents even a fraction of the 12,000 annual tragedies on our highways, then the price of “shaming” the reckless is a bargain the public should be more than willing to pay.
If other states value the lives of the innocent rather than offenders, they will recognize what Utah is trying to do by implementing this law and take steps to do the same.