Anger brewing over plan to lift beer-sale ban

"It had nothing to do with that," City Recorder Jo Evans said.

Previously beer drinkers who wanted a Sunday brew could go to one of three taverns, including a private club, she said. After Sunday beer sales were allowed in stores, the taverns went out of business.

"We now have no taverns in Springville," she said.

Payson followed with Sunday beer sales in 2003.

Has it made much of a difference?

"Not really," said Jeremy Rowley, assistant manager at Payson Market. "We did it because Wal-Mart was coming in and they wanted to sell it on Sunday."

Santaquin has always allowed Sunday beer sales, but it wasn't always easy to make a purchase.

"We had no ordinance against it. Business owners just chose not to sell it," Santaquin City Recorder Susan Farnsworth said.

---

Contributing: Associated Press

E-mail: rodger@desnews.com