Comments about ‘More Utah restaurant liquor licenses?’

""I believe in the free market system," [Froerer] said."

A free market approach to alcohol control would be a completely welcome change. I hope Rep. Froerer is speaking the truth about his desire to see that. But I am skeptical - a free market approach would allow any reputable businessperson, after passing a basic background check, to receive a license with no quotas at all. That person could lose the license for repeated violation of state law (ie, selling to minors) but otherwise the state would not interfere in the normal operation of business. Adults would be allowed to act as adults without unnecessary supervision.

And of course in a free market the whole state liquor store system would be privatized, allowing market forces of supply and demand to set prices and access.

But somehow, I think our legislature will prefer to remain ardent socialists when it comes to alcohol.

Why does the legislature need to consult the LDS church about legislation? We might as well move to Iran if we want to mix church and state.

Alchohol is legal. Prohibition failed.

I find it hypocritical that the state of Utah is the only one allowed to sell bottles of hard alchohol and yet limits how many bars there are.

Having bars that can only serve beer (and weak beer at that) is what hurts Utah tourisim. When people come from abroad they want to have a little fun. Due to the opinion of some, many pay the price.

Grant more Utah restaurant liquor licenses. It's about time this state caught up to the 1990's.

Why does the LDS church have any say, one way or the other, about affairs of the legislature? And how come LDS legislators never seek the permission of Utah Catholic or Protestant or Buddhist or Muslim leaders also before drafting legislation? It proves that our political leaders are really just pawns of the LDS church.

All previous comments from this story have missed the mark. This is not a religious issue, it is a community protection issue. Those who support more liquor licenses are ignoring the proven fact that the resulting increase in drunkenness and sloth would be devastating to this Community. Study after study has confirmed that an increase in alcohol use leads to increases in divorce, crime, and disease. There was a time in this Country when government leaders recognized this fact and valued the safety of the community over re-election bids.

So you advocate socialism in this case? What happened to free agency? What you seem to be saying in this case is "You children need government to protect you from yourselves." Thanks Karl Marx...

I'll bet you wouldn't say the same about guns.

'Study after study has confirmed that an increase in alcohol use leads to increases in divorce, crime, and disease.'

What study was that? Cite your source.

And if that was the case, why does the state have liquor stores?

This is legal, keep up.

I think this is going to be one of the key issues in this upcoming election. I, for one, am going to be looking very hard at whether I am electing representatives who want to keep Utah as the place people want to come to because of our wonderful standard of living or whether they want to give in to economic pressures to turn us into just another big city.

'...who want to keep Utah as the place people want to come to because of our wonderful standard of living or whether they want to give in to economic pressures to turn us into just another big city.' - 9:34 a.m.

Tami, people do not consider SLC a big city. Many still view it as a place full of redneck, corn-chucking individuals who live in a small town.

Restrictive liquor laws that only empower the city (and restrict 'free market') are proof that is the case.

I think you better take a long step outside and breath this polluted air, now you know how smokers feel girl, your already in a big city! You people sit and cry about stupid lame alcohol laws, yet you could care less about the quality of the air your children are breathing?

Then, pass a law allowing wholesale distributors for alcohol and the retail distribution of wine.

Those who complain about a lack of separation of Church and State in Utah are wrong. The Church and State are more separate in Utah than in any other state -- unlike the constitutions of all other states, the Utah State Constitution requires it. As for alcohol regulation, the state regulates alcohol because the federal Constitution gives it the right to do so. (See Section 2 of the 21st Amendment)

The LDS Church has the same free speech right that you or I do to give the legislature its opinion about alcohol issues, but that is all that the state Constitution gives it the right to do. The legislature is the sole authority that sets alcohol policy for the state.

Utah Constitution, Article 1, Section 4:

"The rights of conscience shall never be infringed.... The State shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.... There shall be no union of Church and State, nor shall any church dominate the State or interfere with its functions...."

I support the free market when my opinion is matched by whomever is advocating the free market.

When my opinion is not matched by whomever advocates the free market, then I do not support the free market.

In other words, I am a Republican.

Nice move legislature !
More booze = more heartache and deaths.

'The Church and State are more separate in Utah than in any other state...'

That's why the city sells the LDS church property!

Whatever helps you sleep guy....

"As for alcohol regulation, the state regulates alcohol because the federal Constitution gives it the right to do so. (See Section 2 of the 21st Amendment)"

What the state of Utah does in regard to alcohol goes far beyond "regulation". Complete control of all alcohol sales and distribution is not regulation - it is centralized government that would make Joe Stalin proud.

These self-righteous types are telling us that restaurants that serve liquor (sorry Mormons, you no longer are a clear-cut majority) will result in:

"drunkenness and sloth"
"heartache and death"

This is the same as banning anti-depressants (Utah is #1 prescription drug abuse) because it causes chemical dependency and sugary foods because it causes tooth decay.

It would be unwise to not limit the number of liquor licenses here in Utah. I think there are too many! We are a family state, not a drunk state. How are we supposed to bring up children in a society that is over-run by businesses that support alcohol abuse? I fully agree with John Charity Spring. Alcohol brings nothing but bad stuff to the community. As far as I'm concerned alcohol is liquid sin and should be avoided by everyone, if not out-lawed entirely. You will live better lives, be less fat and have a more wholesome family. Alcohol is bad in every sense of the word..and beyond!

Sorry, Barbara that you said nothing about limiting anti-depressant use in Utah (Utah is #1 in prescription drug abuse).
Drugs are tablet sin and should be avoided by everyone. You will live better lives without anti-depressants.

'How are we supposed to bring up children in a society that is over-run by businesses that support alcohol abuse?' - 11:47 a.m.

Barbara, America tried to ban alchohol. It was called Prohibition. In 1919.

It failed.

In 1933.

So that has given you 76 years to make liquor consumption against the law in America again.

If you have a child, you are likely aware that, if you are over 21, you can legally consume liquor.

So, to review, if you are a child you are legally not allowed to drink in the 1st place. Also, the state of Utah has taken ADVANTAGE of this by only allowing the sale of hard liquor at state run liquor stores!

Your claim of a 'family' state rings hollow when state run liquor stores are abound in Utah.