Compromise near on liquor reform

An agreement on liquor reform is being quietly negotiated by a group that includes the legislative sponsors of the two biggest bills and lobbyists representing groups on both sides of the issue.

The details of the agreement were still being worked out Wednesday, but Senate President Michael Waddoups told the Deseret News it is expected to include eliminating private club applications and membership fees, a change sought by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

"That's what they're working toward," Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said. Although the Senate GOP caucus showed little interest in the governor's proposal, Waddoups said that will be different "if we get some trade-offs."

Those include, the Senate president said, tougher DUI penalties for underage drivers and repeat offenders; no decrease in the number of Utah Highway Patrol troopers or alcohol enforcement agents; banning underage customers from the bar areas of restaurants and forcing restaurants to prepare drinks where customers can't see.

Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, who is carrying the Senate GOP's liquor bill, was hurrying between meetings on the deal Wednesday night.

"I'm not sure I'm ready to declare victory yet," Valentine said, adding that an agreement was close. "I'm just doing shuttle diplomacy right now."

The governor's spokeswoman, Lisa Roskelley, said negotiations on the compromise have gone well. "Alcohol policy reform is a critical issue for the governor and the compromise is something that will help Utah's image nationally."

The agreement would mean the end of a threatened initiative petition drive by the Utah Hospitality Association to let voters decide in 2010 whether private club requirements should be done away with, association attorney Lisa Marcy said.

"It's been a gentle hammer. We haven't been shoving it down anyone's throats," Marcy said. She said the association had to agree not to begin circulating petitions for the referendum in exchange for getting what it wanted on private clubs.

A petition drive was being viewed as "an embarrassment" to the state, Marcy said.

Representatives of organizations with an interest in the bill — including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as restaurant and private club associations — have been meeting behind the scenes for more than a week to help settle the differences between two competing liquor bills.