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Utahns will be interested in the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission's two hearings this month on whether to abolish the private club fee for gaining admittance to a bar. Getting the silly rule abolished is long overdue.
The arguments for ridding Utah of what amounts to a phony "membership" to a phony "private club" have been made often and persuasively. The rules do nothing to prevent overindulgence in alcohol. It's just a game drinkers must play. Utah's tourism and hospitality industries have long complained that the rules dissuade out-of-staters from visiting the state or holding conventions here. Defenders of the private club rules may have a legitimate point or two -- if you really stretch. But we think that there's a compelling case for reforms. One argument against change is that there's no groundswell of public support for it. That's no surprise in a state dominated by teetotaling Mormons, and it's certainly no argument for forcing non-Mormons to jump through pointless hoops when all they want to do is engage in a legal activity. The needs of the tourism and hospitality industries are not trivial; they are legitimate public concerns. These industries employ thousands and together form a mainstay of Utah's economy. It's quite valid for state officials to take those businesses' needs into account. As for there being no outcry for change, we note that neither has there been an uproar against the proposed reforms. It might even be possible that there is a quiet constituency in Utah in favor of reasonable liquor laws. A revealing moment in state history came in 1933, when Utah became the 36th state to approve the U.S. Constitution's 21st Amendment -- repeal of prohibition -- thus allowing all Americans to buy alcoholic drinks legally again. Back then the state was more strait-laced than it is now, which leads us to suspect that in 2008 a fair number of Utahns (not necessarily Mormons) will be silently glad if they can just stop at a bar for a drink using only a driver's license for identification. As for contemporary proof of this idea, note that Gov. Jon Huntsman has long pushed for the changes. Huntsman is a canny and popular politician, and we don't think he'd be putting his conservative reputation on the line if he wasn't sure he had a lot of voters behind him. Defenders of the status quo may argue that the laws serve useful functions by putting added barriers to teenage drinking, by discouraging bar-hopping, and by making DUI laws easier to enforce. They argue that the so-called "club memberships" can help provide evidence about who was drinking where. They reject the argument that the club rule makes Utah look odd -- in fact, they like being out of step with America. They say Utah should be proud of its unique culture, and that its non-drinking majority should not have to pick up the costs for the effects of alcohol abuse. All this holds little water. Education and interdiction are far more important in preventing the abuse of alcohol than Utah's private club laws. The state should focus its efforts on what will really keep people from drinking too much. Filling out a form won't accomplish that. Utah can be proud of its culture. It has so many strong, positive elements that it's impossible to believe that giving adults a normal path to a legal drink will overthrow Zion. They're already drinking, after all. The club card system doesn't prevent a single drop of alcohol from getting into somebody's bloodstream. Drinking is a legal activity. It should be noted that the commission's conclusion is only a recommendation to the Legislature. If lawmakers were to end or ease the private club law, they likely would counterbalance that by stepping up efforts to prevent alcohol abuse. That makes sense. • The hearings are scheduled for 10 a.m. on June 11 and 6 p.m. on June 17 at the administrative office of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 1625 S. 900 West, Salt Lake City. |
