Reader comments
Malt-based beverages may come off shelves

VGB | 4:59 a.m. Sept. 29, 2007

I love Utah and I love living here. I just wish the Attorney General and the Liquor Commission would stop trying to make us look like idiots to the rest of the world. Kids are drinking more malt liquor because of the packaging? Give me a break.

kh | 8:58 a.m. Sept. 29, 2007

Mr. Whittle,
I recognize that it's your job and responsibility to cater to visitors to our state. However, consider what is more important; protecting under-age drinking, which studies have shown can adversely affect brain function over time, or portray Utah as a place where one can "have a good time" with easily obtained liquor? I don't think we should bow to what we think out-of-state visitors want and ignore our own citizens safety in this matter.

VBU | 10:46 a.m. Sept. 29, 2007

I am LDS and live in California but have visited other states besides Utah that have strict policies on sales of alcohol and state liquor stores such as Idaho and Ohio. Why do you think Utah stands alone? People get hung up on thinking it is only an LDS issue. You should check how many other states do the same and be proud to be among them as it is the smart way to deal with alcohol. Take it from one who has seen family die early and lives destroyed from alcohol easily obtained here.

Comments continue below

dave | 10:54 a.m. Sept. 29, 2007

Idiots. I thought Utah was conservative. What they are doing defines communism. They losetheeir little minds whin alcohol is mentioned. Very weak mindedlittle people!

Jake | 11:34 a.m. Sept. 29, 2007

Why don't we give our kids a little credit! Do you really think they are so dumb as to pick these drinks up for any other reason than that they taste good and they want to get buzzed. The exact same reason adults pic these drinks. If you have such a problem with it teach you kids not to drink. Or don't buy drinks from that section of the store if you can not tell the difference. Mabey if we enforced the laws that we already have like Iding people at time of purchase we may not have as bad an issue. This has nothing to do with religion! It's a problem because your kids like to drink and for more reasons than the voices in the labels saying drink me.

WHAT!! | 12:19 p.m. Sept. 29, 2007

I love a good thick malt. What are they going to take away next. Burgers and fries.

ED | 1:40 p.m. Sept. 29, 2007

If we are afraid that our children will drink because of the package, what does that say about the way we raised them? Maybe we ought to stop worrying about the little things and teach our children how to be good parents so that the next generation has a chance.

Teach | 1:55 p.m. Sept. 29, 2007

Yes, teach your children about the sublteties of advertising and live what you teach. Don't be intellectualy dishonest by what your children see you do and then tell them something else. Spnd more time with your children, finding out what they think.

Yes, there are many other states who are far more restrictive in their alcohol laws than Utah. They make Utah look absolutely liberal.

Now Dave, your statements are intellectually dishonest. Your bitterness towards the LDS Church comes out very strongly. Find something positive in your life and enjoy life instead of drinking lemons all the time. I don't think anything the Church does or stands for would be acceptable to you. I would not to be around you very much. You are far too negative and bitter.

mark | 3:00 p.m. Sept. 29, 2007

Hooray for the liquor commission's odd sense of duty ,in trying to keep the childrens little gloves of "flavored malt beverages". However ,dear lds brothers and sisters ,it will make it harder to get that buzz before church. Dont want to be caught in the liquor store now ,you know?

The state liquor commission | 5:25 p.m. Sept. 29, 2007

can't "have their booze and drink it too" - what, it's new to you that a malt beverage (stay with me, think the original malt beverage, beer) is marketed in a way that it appeals to young people? Nah, the breweries would never do that! How are these (nasty tasting, BTW) 3.2 'alco-pops' any different than beer in that regard?

How about the State of Utah just get out of the liquor business?

conner | 5:48 p.m. Sept. 29, 2007

Speaking of bitter, I love a nice bitter ale! I am a 37-year-old, casual drinker, and have been since about 15, when I was first allowed to drink small amounts of wine at home with dinner. I am a well-educate, professional, born and raised in Utah. I have not experienced this said loss of brain activity, nor have I ever understood why non-drinkers need to regulate the availability of wine, beer and other libations to others. Keep it flowing, and enjoy.Cheers!

gerald | 7:32 p.m. Sept. 29, 2007

Utah is becoming the laughing stock for hypocrisy. LDSers are supposed to be conservative, yet they blend their brand of politics into their personal beliefs WHICH ARE SOCIALIST BY DEFINITION!
Underage drinking should be discouraged, but the laws in Utah are really directed to adults. "mind control" ... opiate of the masses.
Making something a tiny bit more challenging to obtain does not reduce consumption or change morals. Check out what Prohibition caused in the USA...widespread corruption. See it growing in Utah? I do. The cronyism is disgusting.
What makes these nitwits think they are right when history has already proved them incorrect?!

Anonymous | 10:08 a.m. Sept. 30, 2007

You don't want to drink? Great! Don't drink! Why can't I? Because YOU think it's wrong? That's a crock. I would never run to a prostitute... doesn't mean I'm going to stop someone from doing so. You don't want to drink Mike's? Fine. Great! More power to you. It's far from an unhealthy decision! However, if I'm of age, which I am, let me drink whatever I want. And don't make me run to a liquor store that is overpriced and closed on Sundays and holidays to get it.

Whats Next | 1:28 p.m. Sept. 30, 2007

Whats next, banning quarters because young kids might use them in a drinking game? Lets ban cups too, because under age kids might put booze in cups.

Anonymous | 9:40 p.m. Oct. 1, 2007

I love living in Sacramento, capitol of the world's fifth largest economy. This stupidity would never sell here. I love being treated like an adult. I love not knowing what churches my neighbors attend. No church owns a street in Sacramento. Now, if Mitt would crawl back under his rock.

Pro Malt | 12:21 p.m. Oct. 5, 2007

This gives way to another reason for vouchers. If the kids today are buying malt beverages (and are able to)because of the packaging then we really do need to look to private schools to educate our young. At least when kids from private schools are buying malt drinks it's because they know that they're buying alcohol illegally. This is just another weird law to direct the blame from our kids. In this state I've notice more "our kids are good kids, they wouldn't do anything bad if they knew it was bad" than anywhere else I've lived. If you want to protect your kids from the evils of this world maybe you should raise them instead of your eldest child.

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