Beer heads to back of store in Springville

SPRINGVILLE — A new Springville city ordinance requires local retailers to move mountains — of beer, that is — away from store entrances and windows to shield underage children from being bombarded by advertising.

City Council members discussed and unanimously approved Tuesday night the ordinance, which prohibits beer retailers from placing alcoholic beverages within 15 feet of store entrances or within 10 feet of store windows. Councilman Ben Jolley said "having a wall of beer in the front of your store is ridiculous."

"My children have to walk past mountains of beer to buy a candy bar," he said. "This is getting out of control."

City Attorney John Penrod emphasized that the ordinance would only restrict where beer can be displayed — not where advertisements for alcoholic beverages can be placed.

Becky Canning, a prevention specialist with Utah County Division of Substance Abuse, said several studies suggest a direct correlation between teens' access to alcohol and underage drinking. Front-door beer displays are marketing ploys targeting teens, she said, not current customers.

"If I'm a consumer of alcohol, I know where it is," she said. "I don't need to be bombarded with advertisements."

Canning also said moving beer displays away from windows and entrances would cut down on smash-and-grab thefts.

The ordinance has Utah Food Association President James Olsen scratching his head.

"We're confused by this one," he said, because most retailers place beer at the front of the store so they keep an eye on alcoholic beverages, as well as underage teens.

Besides, he said, most underage drinkers rely on family members to supply beer, not smash-and-grab tactics.

Olsen also said the 15-foot restriction puts smaller gas station convenience stores at a competitive disadvantage with larger stores that have plenty of floor space to spare.

"They're such small facilities," he said. "Fifteen feet goes clear to the back wall."

Springville Police Chief J. Scott Finlayson disagreed, saying the 15-foot condition wouldn't be an "onerous burden" on convenience stores. He also told the City Council that over the weekend, two young men pulled a grab-and-run heist at a local gas station, and the clerk couldn't chase them down.

"Before he could get around the counter," he said, "they were gone."

The City Council's discussion only lasted a few minutes before they voted 4-0 to approve the ordinance. Councilman J. Neil Strong was absent because he was dealing with family medical issues, Mayor Gene Mangum said.

Councilman Phil Bird agreed that towering beer displays send an inappropriate message to teens.

"The mere volume of that stack would indicate that drinking beer is OK," he said.

"And it is OK," Jolley added, "if it is in compliance with state laws."

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