[Liquor Laws] Hey kids! Frustrated to death with Utah's stringent liquor laws? Maybe even a tad confused?Well, join the club. So are Mr. and Mrs. Smith!
The Smiths are a "hypothetical couple used to frame scenarios explaining Utah's regulation of alcoholic beverages," according to a presentation legislative lawyers gave our state lawmakers last week. Mr. and Mrs. Smith (and there they are, to the left!) debuted at a regular work session on the Hill called "Bagels and Briefings."
In one case, the Smiths decide "to open a restaurant in Park City." They want to provide beer and wine. What do they do?
In another, out-of-town friends are coming to Utah for a ski weekend. How, for glory's sake, will the Smiths explain the club membership cobweb to their visitors?
There's also a "statement of advantages" for selling alcohol through state stores: No 1 reason? It's a reliable revenue source.
And why is it important for the state to set strict policies surrounding liquor sales and control?
No. 1 reason: A state-run system is "non-partisan and free of partisan political influence."
Complete with cheesy clip art, the 19 pages on the link "Common Myths and Constituent Questions" will totally educate you. So belly up to the bar, everyone. The Smiths are waiting for ya!
(Holly Mullen)
Call me suspicious but it sounds like a PR firm got its wheels greased.
ReplyDeleteI don't think so. Two lawyers from the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel gave the presentation. Came straight out of your taxpayer's wallet.
ReplyDelete(Holly Mullen)
Ok, I'm confused. On slide 10 under the headline 'Policies' there's a bullet point:
ReplyDeleteNot promote or encourage sale or consumption.
But then I'm also staring at page 55 of the current City Weekly, and I could swear I'm looking at an ad for the State Liquor Store. I notice it says the ad is presented by Young's Market Company (whomever that is), so is this there way of keeping with the letter of the law regarding their own policies?
Also, am I the only one unnerved by the "Control State" at the top of each slide?