Our state of Utah has the most restricting and confusing liquor laws in the entire country.
No doubt it is because of the strong influence of religious groups who see life without liquor as more beneficial to society than life with the problems that come from its abuse. Add to that the compromising that goes on in any community or state government proceedings, and you end up with laws that are not exactly what anybody set out to make, but were the best that could be mediated in the current leadership.
Here in Utah there is a barrier referred to as a Zion Curtain which is a state-required partition between the bar and patrons. Most restaurant/bars that have been opened since January 1, 2010 are required to have them, or else to have their bartenders mix the drinks out of sight of the customers. The idea is that watching all that going on is going to encourage younger people to want to be a part of it. It’s a compromise between not letting anyone have a drink and letting people have them but trying to act like they really aren’t.
A story from Lake City told about the Vuz Restaurant that was recently awarded the freedom to serve both drinks and food without a barrier. They celebrated by carrying the two 15-foot-long, 200-pound pieces of frosted glass out to the parking lot and shattering them, amidst the cheers of the crowd. He had paid $2800 for that glass, but he believes his business will accelerate without it.
Only here in Utah are there rules that necessitate ordering food with liquor, and keeping the alcohol content of the beer very low. There are rules against ordering a “double” or having happy hours.
In other words, there are laws that seek to keep the individual intake of alcohol at a minimum.
While the increasingly non-religious populace is busy looking over the state line and wondering why they cannot have what others have, perhaps they ought to take a look at comparative statistics regarding drunk driving, family squabbles, and other problems that follow the alcohol trail.
