Ure puts a cork in liquor issue

Curtis ruled the substitution in order, saying with a grin that the two issues are related because they are both task forces — a ruling that brought a groan from some representatives who no doubt thought Curtis was stretching the relevancy rule a bit.

After the House adjourned Tuesday afternoon, Curtis was asked why Ure was substituting the original measure. Was it a bad time to study alcohol in Utah?

"Let's just say I'm glad we're not studying alcohol; let's say it is a much better time to study tourism," Curtis said.

Besides the Rocky/LDS Church issue, new Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. recently told his KUED press conference that it might be wise, down the road, to take a look at Utah's unique alcohol laws, especially in relationship to tourism and economic development.

Huntsman said he didn't anticipate any large changes in the law, but certainly tourists need to know that they can get a drink in Utah. In fact, the governor said, Utah's liquor laws are in practice not that different from any other state's; it's just that most people don't know that.

Under that broad umbrella, perhaps Ure's task force could take a peek at liquor laws as they relate to being hospitable to visitors.

While Huntsman may not see a lot of differences in Utah liquor laws, Anderson does.

And the outspoken mayor has for some time advocated what he calls reforms in the alcohol-selling system.

Anderson has had all kinds of suggestions, most aimed at making it easier for visitors to get a drink, to join private clubs, even have universal private club memberships so a tourist in town for a short time could walk from club to club and not have to buy another membership in each.

---

E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com; bsnyder@desnews.com