Deseret News | Liquor law hurts business, critics say

Reader comments
Liquor law hurts business, critics say

gdog3 | 5:32 p.m. Oct. 27, 2009

These mormon law makers can be so tolerant right desnews readers? Nothing like paranoia to bring peoples differences together. I remember going to the Mazza on 9th and 9th to have a nice dinner with my wife, and then buying the whole school (Rowland Hall) a booz buffet. Come on people!

Anonymous | 5:36 p.m. Oct. 27, 2009

Can we get a senator to propose the proximity law to include no churches within 600 feet of schools? I think having churches that close entices young students to go to church.

Jordan T. | 6:40 p.m. Oct. 27, 2009

Am I missing something? Are bars, nightclubs and restaurants enticing minors at a school or church to engage in underage drinking?

Comments continue below

No liquor | 12:23 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

We don't eat at restaurants that serve booze. And I know a great many people who don't either. So if businesses think they need to have liquor licenses to survive, they are missing out. There are always whiny people who think everything has to be for drinkers. Not long ago, everything had to be for smokers too because they just had to have their cigarettes. Now most of them or dead or have finally got it thru their thick skulls that smoking kills. Guess what? Alcohol kills too, in many ways. It's not good for you. I don't intend to expose my family to it or to people who are dumb enough to have to drink. If some people don't like that, too bad. I really don't care. We'll patronize businesses that agree with our views.

Jason | 12:28 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

They should just outlaw alcohol consumption everywhere by anyone. There, problem solved!

Sam | 1:39 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

It's amazing no one has tried that before Jason.

Oh wait... How did prohibition end up again?

ERIC | 1:43 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

The complaint is that this law is hurting business...GOOD! A business that makes its money by selling a substance that induces innumerable detriments to society should not be encouraged. This is not intolerance, it is economics. The financial drain that alcohol has upon our society in terms of accidents, decreased productivity, deaths, addiction treatment, violence, rape, abuse, etc, etc, etc.

The reason many individuals drink alcohols is that it dis inhibits them, helps them feel differently, etc. Not all behave poorly, but enough do behave without restraint that it warrants government intervention.

In the end Alcohol is legal. Adults are allowed to purchase and consume at their leisure. This does not mean it should be available at every restaurant, in every neighborhood. Limiting the access away from schools and churches is a reasonable measure that in the end limits the accessibility overall. Thus, limiting the potential pain, tragedy, etc at least in the areas surrounding the schools and churches of Utah.

Paranoid Utahn's | 5:15 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

Only in Utah are there so many paranoid and mindless individuals who have the concept that having a drink is a crime.

Personally, I would authorize pubs in every subdivision to promote values and pride in a community.

What does where a pub is have to do with schools or churches? What are they afraid of? Most people who have a drink are not drunkards or slobs, they are good and well deserving people.

There is too much paranoia in government and leaders of communities with some archaic misconceptions.

Besides, it has been proven that moderate drinking is healthy and good for you. This paranoia in Utah about sinners and sin taxes has gone on long enough.

@ No liquor: | 5:49 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

Some people like to go out for nice meals - not all of confine our eating out to McDonald's.

Ray | 7:08 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

Yes, lets reinstate prohibition, dispense liquior in churches and schools. Whatever we do lets not let logic and reason prevail. The lady doing business with those businesses that offer an atmosphere favorable to her beliefs is the way to control what is offered, or not offered in a business. No customers, no business, with many customers you have a viable business. Let the buying public choose who they want to support. How is it right for one faction to control what is offered by a business? Perhaps we should pass a law to prevent the distribution of frankfurters, surely there are some that find them objectionable. We surely need a few more restrictive laws on the books, that are not beneficial to the general public, but are compatible with the beliefs of some.

hey no LIQUOR | 7:54 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

I grew up in a house and family just like yours. Guess what at age 15 I learned your personal choices are lies. Stay in your house for all we care dont go past your front door. And listen to everything that Glen Beck tells And believe its all fact. The rest of would like to enjoy life a bit before we die.
CC Proud Utah Atheist AMERICAN family.

MY | 7:55 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

Maybe pharmacies should be banned to, I believe prescription drugs are abused and cause more family problems in Utah than alcohol does. If the LDS have such a good program why are they worried about the choices of their people shouldn't they make the correct choices.

too funny.... | 8:12 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

Religion has killed more people in the name of their gods than alcohol...

Hey No Liquor | 8:15 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

No problem with your kind of people at restaurants that serve liquor. We don't need your screaming snot nosed kids running around making a pest of themselves, thereby taking away the enjoyment of others. Restaurants are not baby-sitting places so keep your kids under control !

Business Owner | 8:25 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

My experience has been that catering to the conservative LDS crowd, who refuse to eat anywhere that liquor is served (such as the "No liquor" responder) is economic death to your business. Mormons are typically so cheap that you have no chance of succeeding with them as your base unless you have a fast food restaurant, where liquor isn't an issue anyway.

liquor in utah | 8:35 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

How can a church regulate stuff like this that's affiliated with the state? Isn't there supposed to be a separation of church and state? Only in Utah does this happen. This is honestly outrageous. LDS people in Utah think they're the only people living there. Alcohol is everywhere, and I'm not saying it's good for you, but there is no need to prohibit others from consuming something they like. If you don't want to be around it then don't go out to eat. Stay home.

Hey Also No Liquor | 9:02 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

"We don't eat at restaurants that serve booze ... Alcohol kills too, in many ways. It's not good for you ... We'll patronize businesses that agree with our views."

Well guess what ... obesity kills too. So if I understand you correctly, you will not eat at the Olive Garden but you will eat at Denny's? I fail to see your argument. BTW, watch out for the coffee there ... your kids may see.

Gorp Neil. | 9:11 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

Well, I for one just want to sit in my basement, eat a sack of cookies, gulp down sodie pop, wash my oversized gut with jello, and listen to Glen Beck so's I cant get through the day.
Them drinkers are a filthy bunch who don't allow Ruch and Glen to tell them what to put in their brains.
Church and good food over alcohol any day.
Now go ahead and call me names.

liquor in utah? | 9:11 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

"Alcohol is everywhere, and I'm not saying it's good for you, but there is no need to prohibit others from consuming something they like."

You are right it is bad for you. And you are not being denied. You can buy it all over. That is if you are over 21. Many, many, many cities all over the country have no alcohol near churches and schools. It is very common to attempt to protect kids. I just hope you don't drive when you drink.

Anonymous | 9:22 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

re: Hey No Liquor 8:15am

amen!

Tony | 9:47 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

I just think it's rediculous that people try to push their beleifs on anyone else. I went to a Red Lobster last week for some to go with my 4 year old. I wanted to sit in the bar and have an iced tea while my little one had a chocolate milk, that way I could watch the baseball game while we waited for our food. Guess what, it's now illegal to have my daughter in the bar area of a restraunt. Absolutely rediculous, these people need to mind their own business.

Anonymous | 9:48 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

Where I live in New Mexico they cannot have liquor within 300 feet of schools and churches and it has nothing to do with the Mormons. Why are people against protecting children?

No Liquor | 9:51 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

You are quite the intellectual aren't you? Not!!! Who cares if you eat at restaraunts that don't serve booze. Who died and put you in charge of other peoples moralities. You need to keep doing what your doing and stay out of establishments that serve adults. Your greater than thou attitude wreaks of LDS. You think that you have the right to choose what's right for everybody. A couple of other commenters have got you pegged already but, your ignorance compelled me to right something. You are probably the one I see out in public that doesn't control their kids or respect anyone elses rights but, you would be the first one to complain is someone doesn't see things your way. Now, after reading your comment I will never go to a restaraunt that doesn't serve alchohol for fear of running into you or your children that would probably be standing in a booth looking at me or disrupting my dinner by running around unsupervised. Why don't you do us all a favor and stay home!!!

My hero Stalin | 10:53 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

Religious extremism has been shown to hurt people, so let's just outlaw religion like my hero Stalin did. It will fit perfectly in line with our laws that only allow the state to profit from the sale of liquor. And it matches arguments in this forum that say if a few people abuse something we should just outlaw it for everyone.

Oh wait, I guess we only adopt Communist principals that that HELP the church. But that's OK. All the Republicans in the state who decry socialism really have their fingers crossed. How else could they say that and still support a state run monopoly on alcohol.

eric | 10:55 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

here is my thing within this subject....do i drink every so often maybe 4 times out of the year. Overall i look at it like this if people want to drink who care, if people don't want to drink that's on you as well. I do think all churches and state government needs to stay out of this business period. Now i see why the state of Utah is a joke to the rest of the nation. Wake up Utah come and see the light and get out of the dark...oh why wait maybe you hard core mormon church live life and enjoy...

Fredd | 11:09 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

Everyone calm down. They want to revert back to pre 2008 rules, not open a bar on every corner. These restaurants pay taxes and employ people. There are very draconian laws in place for violating liquor rules already. You have to ask the school or church's permission under the old rule.

Ridiculous statement legislation | 11:19 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

These laws are fascinating. The giant elephant in the room is the fact that the mormon church has death grips on state and local goverments in Utah.

There is little separation. This is simply legislation designed to push a certain group of people's ideas on everyone else. The good news is that the state (especially SLC) is becoming more and more liberal and diversified as more and more folks move in. It's nice to see the diversity and the furthering of liberalisation in the downtown SLC area.

Things will be quite different a decade from now.

RE: Liquor in Utah? | 11:45 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

My main point is that these laws are mainly based off of religious reasons. If you were to ask a mormon why they don't drink, they'd most likely say because it's against my religion. Am I right? All I'm saying is that LDS church members should stop imposing there beliefs on other people. Or in other words, realize that the state doesn't revolve around them. By the way, I don't drink and drive. Thanks for your concern.

Sasha Pachev | 11:49 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009

We do not eat out at places that serve booze either. Nor at the places that make you fat. Which means we rarely eat out. But that's OK, helps save money.
As much as I wish, though, that we could make an argument - "do not serve sin, it is good for your business", unfortunately in a supposedly LDS majority dominated state it is not the case. But we can make the argument - "Do not serve sin, it is not good for your soul" for those who care.

Steven | 2:50 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009

Wow, if you only go to places that "don't serve alcohol" like some on here claim, then you're limited to fast food, pseudo fast food places and pizza delivery. How boring. But more important, how limiting to your food and restaurant enjoyment! I see people eating and drinking every time I go out and I don't know if they're having alcohol or not. And I don't care. Just because I don't drink alcohol doesn't make it my business to judge those that do.

Cincinnatus | 3:49 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009

For those of you who don't eat at restaurants where alcohol is served, that is a personal choice, but let me ask a question- where do you buy your groceries? It seems to me that every grocery store I've been to sells beer. Are you staying away from those places too?

As an active member of the LDS Church, I've made the choice to not drink alcohol, but that doesn't mean I am afraid that being near alcohol will suddenly infect me or my children with the need to drink.

I travel across the US for business and go out to dinner often with friends in other states. They like to have a drink with dinner- and they know that I don't, and don't ask, or offer. I have even gone to bars with these friends and sat and enjoyed their company or music or entertainment, while sipping my soda.

What it comes down to is choice. If you don't want to drink- don't. Don't go to restaurants or bars that serve alcohol, but be respectful of the choices that other people make who aren't LDS.

Anonymous | 4:21 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009

To the business owner that said, "Mormons are typically so cheap that you have no chance of succeeding with them as your base unless you have a fast food restaurant, where liquor isn't an issue anyway."

With an attitude like that, it is no wonder you are unsucessful at marketing to LDS Church members. Speaking for myself, I am very willing to pay for a good meal. Note that I said a GOOD meal, not an overpriced meal. What I want is value; a $50 entre has got to be WORTH $50 before I would be willing to spend that much. I think that LDS people might be better than most at perceiving that the emperor has no clothes when it comes to restauarant meals with a high price point.

Zadruga Guy | 4:25 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009

To the person styling himself as Ridiculous statement legislation who said, "Things will be quite different a decade from now."

Indeed so. 2009 has been very different thus far from 1999. It is my firm recollection that 1999 was very different from 1989. And 1979 was also very different.

Zadruga Guy | 4:36 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009

@Cincinnatus: Just to be clear, I often eat at restaurants that serve alcohol. But I drink water or juice. Sometimes a fruit smoothie.

If someone else wants to drink something a little stronger, that is fine with me as long as they are 21+ and are not going to be driving afterwards.

What gets me irate is the number of posts from people who equate the status quo with the repression. There are no shortage of places to go to that serve alcohol and no shortage of cab drivers willing to take you there. How are you being repressed?

Radical thoughts | 4:48 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009

I too don't eat at restaurants that serve any type of alcohol. I also don't go to McDonalds, cause they serve coffee there. When I drive through Vegas, I put shades on my windows so it blocks out the semi pornographic billboards. I also have this new hearing aid technology that filters out swear words when someone by me swears. Get real people, ITS ALL ABOUT PERSONAL CHOICE. Stop imposing your beliefs on someone else. I don't care if you drink, don't drink, do meth, eat soup with a fork.. It's your decision. As a young man who grew up going to an LDS church, I have begun to resent some of the people of the mormon faith. Keep in mind I said PEOPLE, not the church. Alcohol is ones choice, my personal choice is to drink. I do it in the confines of my own home, don't drive, and don't effect anyone outside of ME. The holier than thou attitude that some Utahns have is what drives me insane. Take a walk in someone else's shoes before you criticize. Just because you don't drink, doesn't make you better.

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