Huntsman has said he wants to see the state ease up on regulating private clubs by allowing what is Utah's version of a bar to do away with memberships. The governor told reporters last week to avoid "reading too much into" the changes.

The new appointments, Huntsman said are important to what he called "an ongoing iterative process" to look at what needs to be done to make liquor laws more tourist friendly.

Lunt said the changes won't affect how the state regulates liquor. "I can't see why it would," he said. "The reality of it is the commission applies the law but the Legislature makes the law. A new commission isn't going to be able to make the law."

The former lawmaker said the commission's main function is to issue licenses to sell alcoholic beverage and sanction liquor law violators.

"Some people get the idea, and this is my opinion, that the commission has more influence on liquor law and liquor policy than we really do," Lunt said. However, the commission can make recommendations to lawmakers.

One of the governor's new appointments to the commission, Gordon Strachan, has already made recommendations, as part of a group in Huntsman's transition team assigned to to look at the department.

The group's recommendations included eliminating private clubs and allowing wine to be sold in supermarkets. Strachan, who, along with the other new appointees, has yet to be confirmed by the state Senate, declined to comment.

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