More Utah restaurant liquor licenses?

SALT LAKE CITY — A Weber County lawmaker said he's ready to take the first step to eliminate the state's liquor license quotas but acknowledged it's going to be a tough fight.

Rep. Gage Froerer, R-Huntsville, said he's having a bill drafted to do away with limiting the number of restaurant licenses that can be issued by the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Froerer said his bill, which would be introduced in the 2010 Legislature that begins Jan. 25, is backed by at least two other state representatives as an economic development issue rather than a liquor issue.

Even though the state ran out of club licenses last week, Froerer only wants to look at getting rid of restaurant quotas next session. The state uses a formula based on state population to determine the number of all types of liquor licenses available.

"It really is a test case," Froerer said, noting he would need time to examine the effects of ending license quotas at restaurants before he'd be willing to propose the same for clubs.

Froerer's bill does not have the support of some legislative leadership or Gov. Gary Herbert, who have said next year — an election year for most lawmakers and the governor — is too soon to tackle another major liquor issue.

House Majority Leader Kevin Garn, R-Layton, said there may well be some interest in making the change at least in the House.

"I think the House would be receptive to it. I think, at minimum, we ought to have the discussion," Garn said. "The marketplace is saying we need more (licenses)."

During the 2009 session, lawmakers ended private club membership requirements to enter Utah bars. The change came as a result of weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations involving many groups, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Froerer said he's already spoken with LDS Church officials about his bill.

"They were appreciative I brought it to them," he said, but did not back changing the quota system.

Still, Froerer said he intends to introduce the bill and hopes to at least have it heard by the House Business and Labor Committee that he serves on.

"We're not viewing this as basically a loosening of liquor laws. This is economic development and the creation of jobs," he said. "We feel if it doesn't go any where this year, we'll try again next year."