A viral video from a Utah bartender showing the state’s mandatory liquor dispensing system is causing massive online chaos and sparking a lot of questions about government overreach. Bartender @insertusername817s732j posted the clip on TikTok, which has already racked up more than 8 million views, demonstrating how she has to use a specific device just to pour a shot of liquor.
In the video, the bartender places what she calls an interlock device right onto the spout of a Captain Morgan rum bottle before pouring it over ice. After just a few seconds, the mechanism automatically shuts off and stops dispensing the liquid. You can immediately see why people are reacting so strongly to this.
It’s a state-mandated metering system required by Utah law for every bar, restaurant, airport lounge, and banquet hall operating in the state. According to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services, the system must be calibrated to dispense no more than 1.5 ounces of liquor per drink. Furthermore, the device has to be incredibly accurate, maintaining a margin of error no greater than 1/16 of an ounce for a one-ounce pour.
It’s one of the most bizarre kinds of government overreach
This level of control is a huge bummer for anyone who enjoys a stiff drink because you simply can’t order a double in Utah. The law limits mixed drinks to 2.5 ounces of total alcohol, and no more than 1.5 ounces of that can be the “primary spirit.” If you’re a cocktail enthusiast, this is awful news. Classic cocktails that call for two ounces of a single spirit have to be creatively reworked. And unique experimental cocktails are a no-go.
Bartenders have to get really inventive, often making smaller drinks or adding secondary spirits just as “flavorings” to legally stretch the drink while staying within the total alcohol limit. Despite the hurdles, the bartender actually found a silver lining to the strict rules. She joked in the caption, “Honestly this is wild. But makes it easy to work in a bar as an alcoholic lolololol.”
The public reaction to this level of government control has been intense. Commenters are comparing the rules to standards from the “probation era.” One person noted the stark difference between states, saying, “…. in Louisiana I can go through a drive through and get a daiquiri in a to go cup what in the probation era is this.” Another commenter linked the rules directly to perceived government overreach, adding, “Note to self, avoid Utah and the massive government overreach.”
To understand why the state is so restrictive, you have to look at its unique history. Utah’s relationship with alcohol is heavily influenced by its strong Mormon heritage. Today, 55% of residents belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose religious code advises against consuming alcohol.
The state’s strictness extends far beyond just how drinks are poured. If you want to buy packaged liquor, wine, or beer over 5% ABV, you have to purchase it from state-run stores. These government-run stores are closed on Sundays and often shut down as early as 7:00 PM. Furthermore, Utah has the country’s strictest DUI limit at .05% blood alcohol content. That’s a huge difference from the .08% standard used in every other state, making it essentially the equivalent of just one drink for most people.
Published: Jan 2, 2026 10:30 am