Support of LDS Church and others sought for more Utah restaurant liquor licenses

Published: Wednesday, Nov. 10 2010 6:00 p.m. MST

Summary

PROVO — His bill increasing the number of liquor licenses for restaurants hasn't been drafted yet, but Sen. John Valentine is already quietly building support with key stakeholders, including the LDS Church.

Sine and DABC Commission Chairman Sam Granato both would like to see the quota system on liquor licenses scrapped.

"The need is very acute. We need to get licensees. We know we have a down economy and we want to create jobs," Granato said. "I think the quota system really needs to go away."

Granato, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat won by Republican Mike Lee, said it will be hard to turn away some of the applicants for licenses at next week's liquor commission meeting.

"It's a little heart-wrenching to look at these people who have their life's ambition, if you will, in a dream to create a business and they're told, 'Sorry, there's no room for you.' That's not the American way."

e-mail: lisa@desnews.com

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baseballmamma

Alpine, UT

im not sure why the church should have a say in this matter. they can advise their members but advise the state? that should not be happening.

6:04 p.m. Nov. 10, 2010
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Hutterite

American Fork, UT

The mormon church is not a 'stakeholder'. They run interference at best. If the church wants a liquor license, fine, but otherwise it's time to separate church from state.

6:37 p.m. Nov. 10, 2010
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dave

Park City, UT

There is no separation of church and state in Utah. Thank goodness for the federal government..

7:09 p.m. Nov. 10, 2010
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