Commissioner Bobbie Coray questioned whether it is even legal for Utah to be selling the beverages outside of state liquor stores because of the liquor content in the flavorings used to create them.

But others suggested the law never anticipated the sale of flavored malt beverages. Commissioner Kathryn Balmforth said she believes the change could be made through a new rule interpreting the current law rather than going to the Legislature.

While most of the public hearing Thursday focused on the flavored malt beverage issue, commissioners are considering other changes to the state's liquor laws, including increasing the number of restaurant licenses available.

The former executive director of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Ken Wynn, told commissioners they should push to do away with any limits on the number of restaurant licenses available. Currently, the commission is limited by population figures.

Wynn, who retired earlier this summer after nearly 30 years with the department, praised the commission for holding the hearing.

"The more you allow public input on issues affecting the public, especially when it comes to liquor, the more open it's going to be," he said. "And the more apt you're going to be able to lose the Taliban label."

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