Comments about ‘Proposed changes to Utah liquor laws drawing many voices’

How much money does the Utah County Department of Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Treatment get from the state each year? It is, after all, the primary duty of every government body to protect its own existence.

As for everybody else, just remember, the free market is nothing to fear. Embrace Liberty.

Be honest. Anyone wanting alcohol can get it now, regardless of their age or state of inebriation. That has been true for decades, even before, during, and after prohibition, so all this kabuki theater about "protecting public safety" is delusional.

There are really only three issues:

1- What limits will be placed on age to purchase and who will enforce them?

2- Who will legally sell alcohol in the state- (a) private enterprise in free market competition (perhaps with some sort of licensing) or (b) state owned and operated stores?

3- How can the state make money off the sale of alcohol, under the pretense of treating drunks, preventing accidents, or whatever. (They really want the money, regardless of how it ends up being spent.)

The only rational answers are:
1- State sets restrictions and enforces them.
2- Private enterprise.
3- A "sin tax" per unit of sale (six pack, fifth, gallon, on volume or weighted by alcohol content). Simple and easy to enforce.

Now, with that solved, get back to the real issues.

Taxes and silly rules drive people (me) out of state to purchase. And why is it that those that seek to 'protect' us never say a word about cigarettes? Look at the stats, folks. It could be construed as hypocritical to ignore a gorilla this big in the room. Or do you have another agenda?

Re: Hutterite

No one every got killed from smoking and driving(at least not from the smoking itself) that I've ever heard of. My mom got hit by a drunk driver when she was pregnant with me by someone pulling out of the state liquor store--in Utah!! I say have free enterprise if people can keep their stupid drunk friends from driving intoxicated....I don't drink alcohol and really don't care if you do but if you decide to drive then you've crossed a big line.

@albu1595

Many - most - of us who support privatization are perfectly fine with increased penalties for DUI, especially if that DUI results in bodily harm or property damage. That said, none of are would be better protected by that if those penalties aren't applied equally to all offenders. Too often a call from the offender's Bishop to the DA has gotten higher-profile people off the hook, or at least suspended or reduced sentences. That needs to stop for everyone's safety.

BTW, people have gotten killed when a driver was distracted, trying to light a cigarette.