Panel OKs bill calling for separate booze room

One Utah lawmaker wants to tear down the state's infamous and oft-ridiculed "Zion Curtain" in restaurants that serve alcohol, but wants to replace it with what many see as even worse for the state's image.

SB187, sponsored by Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, would require alcoholic drinks served in restaurants to be poured in a separate room, out of sight of customers. The proposal was approved unanimously by the Senate Business and Labor Committee on Friday and now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

But Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who kicked off this session's debate on liquor reform by announcing he wanted lawmakers to do away with private club membership requirements, said more work needs to be done on Valentine's plan to shield customers from drink preparations.

"Let's just say there will have to be some compromise along the way. You give a little bit and you take a little bit," the governor told the Deseret News. "What I want to try to avoid is to put any kind of mandate on restaurants that would be onerous and would be costly in a time of economic uncertainty."

Huntsman suggested there "may be more creative ways to approach that where you can still achieve the desire to be out of sight," especially in restaurants that don't have room to accommodate the proposed requirement.

Valentine's bill reflects the Senate GOP caucus position while Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, is carrying the governor's proposal for eliminating private clubs.

Also Friday, a third liquor law reform was floated by Sen. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, who said he is readying language that would create a temporary, 10-day "traveling" private club membership. He said it could be substituted into either Valentine's or Hughes' bill, which would, among other things, eliminate private club memberships.

The "traveling" membership, which could be used at any participating private club in the state, would be available to both Utahns and tourists at a nominal cost, possibly $10, he said. It would require drinkers to first fill out an application and pay a fee for either a temporary or annual membership at a private club.

"I just wanted to put out a third option that possibly could gain some traction," Urquhart said, suggesting that neither Valentine's nor Hughes' bills would make it through the Legislature. "I think this would be pretty simple for a visitor to understand."

Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said he thought Urquhart's proposal "had some potential and that if we get nothing else, we probably should have that discussion."