Idaho, where it is still illegal to open bars in unincorporated areas, has developed a number of specialty licenses for restaurants or resorts. Those licenses have primarily been issued to businesses around Sun Valley or in the McCall area north of Boise.

"It certainly has an effect," Idaho's ABC Bureau Chief Grey said. "Tourism does play a role in these licenses."

Along with Nevadans' proud tradition of minimal regulation, the tourist dollars play a major part in the lack of liquor laws, Nevada's Heyden said. Along with a lot of rural county towns, Clark County laws control what happens along the Las Vegas Strip.

"Our town is based on tourism, and we're the entertainment capital," he said. "They offer people what they want, and people often want to drink."

While tourism will continue to play a greater role in Utah's liquor laws, Dorius doubted that the Olympics would actually have as much of an impact on the laws as some people believe. Because of so many temporary licenses at live music venues, and especially because of various hospitality houses for each country, he said that visitors would probably not even attempt much wandering between the downtown bars.

"These people are coming for a few days, and that will be their experience," he said. "They will only venture out a little. It's much ado about nothing."

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Contributing: Toby Hayes.

E-MAIL: jloftin@desnews.com