Utah Man's License Plate Is 'Too Intoxicating'
SALT LAKE CITY - Of course it is illegal to drink merlot while driving in the state of Utah. But apparently, it is also illegal to drive with it on your license plate.
Glenn Eurick's 1996 Mercedes has had the license plate reading "merlot" for 10 years. He says the plate never became a problem until the Utah Tax Commission told him last week that he had to remove it because the state doesn't allow intoxicant words to be used on vanity plates.
So six or seven-letter words like liquor or whiskey probably wouldn't make it through the state screening process before the plates are issued. But merlot did and Eurick was fine until an anonymous caller told the state that merlot was also an alcoholic beverage.
Eurick's car with the offending plate is dark red, like the wine. He said few people who asked about the plate made the
connection, other than one man when Eurick stopped for gas in Green River.
"He asked us if we chose merlot because there were too many letters in cabernet sauvignon," Eurick said.
Eurick said he will challenge the state's decision.
