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Senate opposes easing Utah liquor laws
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The incoming Senate leader said people patronizing private clubs have to be identified. "We need to do everything we can to keep people from driving impaired," Waddoups said. "Private club memberships have been a help in identifying those people."
I don't understand how a private club membership helps to identify people who drive impaired?
Let's all support a system that takes gov't out of the loop. We permit bars to serve whoever they want, whenever they want.
But we also strengthen Utah's weak-kneed dram shop laws so that the bars, their owners, and all members of the "hospitality industry", are held fully and strictly responsible for the carnage they wreak on unsuspecting innocents when they permit, even encourage, overindulgence in their establishments.
That seems extremely fair. Any time a drunk driver hurts someone, we include the industry that profits so handsomely from enabling him in the personal injury lawsuits.
Gov't is out of our lives. People are made whole. Everyone's happy!
OK?
Dave?
Utah legislature?
People who will overconsume will do it regardless of restrictive laws same as those intent on harm will find a way to get weapons regardless of gun restriction laws. Penalizing self-regulating people because of those who cause the problems only penalizes the upstanding citizen. It never solves the problem.
These laws are written and supported by simple-minded, ignorant and mean little men. Waddops, Buttars and that ilk are what is wrong with Utah. T
They incentivize responsibility, rather than irresponsibility. And they make ill-gotten hospitality industry profits available to persons injured by that industry.
Utah legislature -- where are you?
As a Mormon and having been raised in California,I can tell you that this law needs to go away. Doing so will not have any effect on consumption and will allow Utah to compete for convention business. Focus on building a new convention hotel to assist in bringing those conventions to Utah where the dollars will benefit our economy.
Come on, Waddoups et al. Give thinking people a break.
Now, with that, haven't you ever noticed how bars in most of Utah (save SLC) don't have windows and have secret entrances in the rear? Guess who those people are going in the back way?
We've got to incentivize responsibilty on the part of people rational enough to adjust their actions. We can't merely rely on moral suasion to prevent bad behavior by the offender, since, as you point out, he often has only limited control over his actions.
If the profits of the entire hospitality industry, not just the bars, but also the brewers, distillers, and distributors, are placed at risk by irresponsible behavior, I'm confident that behavior will decrease in frequency.
That's what will save lives.
"We need to do everything we can to keep people from driving impaired," Waddoups said. "Private club memberships have been a help in identifying those people."
Did the reporter follow up with Waddoups to determine just how the State is using those lists? Is there some sort of a "Known Private Club Member" list that every cop is using to look for drunk drivers? Sounds pretty Big Brother to me.
You've seen every bit of guidance given out by the Church in the pages of this newspaper. It's exactly the same guidance I've seen. Same source.
I happen to agree with it. So do most legislators and voters in Utah. You apparently disagree.
So, make your case. Convince me. Burden's on you.
Have you got a point to make about how much better my life will be with no restrictions on alcohol consumption?
Frankly Senator I find that we have a lot irresponsible republican senators in this state.
Is there a possibility of creating impossibly confusing regulations that would protect Utah society from demon state senators??
I mean really, is being hit by a drunk driver any worse than being subjected to the irrational rants of a moronic state senator?? I believe studies would demonstrate that both are equally clueless and dangerous. Time to regulate.
You have my word on it.
That'll get 'em on your side!
Perhaps this line of thinking should be continued. I call up the liquor store, and they deliver the wine and beer I would have to drive to purchase. Folks who want to have dinner at the Chili's, with all of their liquor, or go to a bar for drinks can call a DABC phone line and be shuttled to and from. Only then will alcohol-related driving accidents be eliminated, right?
Perhaps then cell-phone use while driving (impairment) will be made illegal, further increasing the safety of the roads. Next, lifted trucks and SUVs with bumpers pointing squarely at the heads of drivers in sedans will be outlawed.
Club memberships have no effect on drunk driving.
Let me repeat:
club....memberships..have.. noooooo... effect... on drunk driving
Please don't pull the Mormon card before you get educated. Drinking is a social issue way before it's a religious one.
Hello?
Anyone there?
For Tomorrow You May Be In Utah.
Haven't ya'll gone over this before...again & again...?
Ski Tahoe!!
I suppose you belief all alcohol should be banned. Of course, only your beliefs matter. Until the LDS church learns tolerance for the beliefs of others, it will always be held in the lowest esteem by the rest of the world. If you want to help the Church, keep your beliefs to yourself, and let them apply to your own life. Please do not try to impose them on me, unless of course, you want us to continue to think of the church as intolerant.
First of all, many people drink at parties or even in their own home. I would like to see some statistics of the drunken drivers who did injure or kill people to see if they were in these private clubs.
Secondly, government, get out of our lives, particularly Utahs! And yes, this will give second thoughts to tourists visiting here. And same mantra "if you don't like it don't come here".
Also, I see these legislatures ignoring the medicinal attributes of wine--to them all alcohol is bad.
Well, Brigham must have been a sinner as he drank his share when the Mormons settled here. Maybe he should have opened a private club too.
Public referrendum on cue?
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