First step toward change in liquor law

Liquor-by-the-drink may well be coming to Utah — a statement that would have seemed laughable just a few years ago.

Wednesday, the Utah liquor commission voted 3-1 to have staff start drafting what one commissioner called "a major change" in state liquor law to be presented to the 2009 Legislature.

Basically, the current individual private club memberships — as low as $5 for a temporary membership to some clubs — would be done away with. Any adult over 21 could go into a properly licensed bar open to the public (some private clubs would stay "private" by choice) and buy an alcoholic drink without having to also buy a meal, as current law requires.

It's called liquor-by-the-drink, and until this year anyone who really thought it could happen here was, well, drinking too much.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is in favor of the change.

The Utah Hospitality Association has started an initiative petition drive to put the change before voters in 2010.

Almost assuredly, a liquor-by-the-drink bill will be introduced into the 2009 Legislature.

And Wednesday, after the vote by the Utah Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, two private club lobbyists said there has been contact with leaders of "various churches" — including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — and so far none of those religious leaders have put the kibosh on the change.

LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter said church leaders "have been in contact" with those interested in the change, but leaders are withholding comment until they actually see any proposed liquor bill.

"It would be tough, very difficult" to pass such a major change in Utah liquor law over the objections of leaders of the LDS Church, said state Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem. The church "is a big stakeholder" in any liquor law changes.

The LDS Church counsels abstinence in drinking alcoholic beverages, and faithful members don't drink.

What Valentine didn't say is that 80 percent of the 104-member part-time Legislature are faithful members of the LDS Church and simply would not vote for any liquor change opposed by their religious leaders. Liquor-by-the-drink made it on to the ballot in the late 1960s, only to be defeated at the polls after LDS Church leaders opposed it.

But that was 40 years ago.

Local attorney Pat Shea , a non-Mormon who has long-held connections with LDS Church leaders, said Wednesday that "leaders of various churches" may well accept a change in state liquor law — as long as overconsumption by adults is controlled and Utah's effort to keep liquor from youths are maintained, and even strengthened.