State legislators here for their national convention didn't seem to care that alcohol wasn't on the menu for Tuesday's opening social at the state Capitol.

"A cold beer would have been nice. But it doesn't bother me at all," New Mexico lawmaker Kandy Cordova said as she sipped a soda at the party for delegates to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Cordova and other lawmakers said they respect Utah's prohibition against serving alcoholic beverages on the Capitol grounds, including the newly constructed Capitol Plaza where most of the partygoers gathered. "I'm very proud of the state of Utah for its position," Ohio state representative Tyrone Yates said. "I don't oppose the consumption of alcohol. But I think each state's mores and standards are to be . . . respected and honored. It's not like they said women couldn't come."

Planners for the event fretted for months over whether to welcome the 4,000 people expected for the annual convention to the Capitol with alcohol, especially since the evening also included a performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

After attempts to change the facility's anti-alcohol rules failed, they settled on a chuckwagon style buffet featuring meatballs, duck and a chicken dish with a "Bear River" raspberry chutney — but no booze.

Servers reported that only a few people asked for a stronger drink than the bottled water and canned soda cooling in ice-filled galvanized cans scattered throughout the plaza and inside the Capitol.

Peter Harkness, the editor and publisher of Governing Magazine, tried to order a glass of white wine. Harkness said he was aware of the controversy but thought it had been resolved in favor of drinkers.

"That's all right," he said as the song, "Margaritaville," blared in the background. "We'll live."

Alaskan lawmaker Con Bunde said he'd had no trouble ordering a glass of wine during dinner in a Salt Lake restaurant the night before. "I'm from Alaska, where we have some of the highest alcohol consumption in the United States. Even we can be dry for one evening."

Some delegates managed to find a drink before the social. Almost all of the 50 or so patrons gathered earlier Tuesday evening at Port O'Call, a downtown private club, were easily identifiable as delegates by their ties and convention badges.

While notable, longtime bar employee Kyle Robbins said the numbers were not unusual for most conventions. What did surprise Robbins was how little they knew about Utah's liquor laws.

"I've been surprised about how unaware of Utah liquor laws they are," he said. "They aren't offended, but about one in three says, 'You've got to be kidding.' "