Liquor legislation takes steps forward

Two liquor bills moved forward Monday, one by passing a committee and another simply by being unveiled.

HB347, which would make fundamental changes to Utah's quirky and much-maligned statutes controlling the sale of alcohol at taverns, bars and restaurants — including elimination of the state's unique "private club" requirements — passed a House legislative committee Monday afternoon after extensive testimony on both sides of the issue.

At approximately the same time, the Senate liquor bill, SB187, was made public by sponsoring Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem. That bill would make it illegal to pour drinks in front of restaurant customers and does not address the private club issue.

Provisions of HB347, sponsored by Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, will require restaurants to ban minors from sitting at "bar structures" where alcohol is stored or served in their businesses (and nullify the requirement of the barricade currently required on these bars, known as the "Zion curtain"), eliminate membership and membership fee requirements at private clubs and mandate use of electronic scanners that verify the authenticity of identification. Hughes said the bill does not increase the availability of alcohol or change the number of venues licensed to serve alcohol and that aspects of the new rules will make it harder for minors to sneak into 21-and-over establishments.

"This is not an attempt to loosen liquor laws," Hughes said. "We are not increasing the number of licenses, clubs, bars or places where liquor is allowed … we are eliminating the ability of children to sit in a bar-type area … and, if you have these scanners, you are miles ahead of where we are today."

Members of the committee were of varying opinion during debate of the bill, as were members of the public who attended the packed hearing. Janie Brown of Utah Mothers Against Drunk Driving testified the new rules will encourage "bar-hopping" and contribute to shaping a new social norm that makes drinking seem more acceptable to children.

"This bill is represented as a positive step up but is poorly crafted … and is a step down," Brown said.

Several representatives of the hospitality industry spoke before the committee and were roundly in support of the changes. Danny Richardson of the Utah Tourism Industry Coalition said people make travel plans based largely on perception, and Utah's message was not a welcoming one in regards to the ability to buy a drink.

"People think alcoholic beverages aren't available, private clubs may not be friendly … and it's just too much hassle," Richardson said.