[Liquor Laws] Last night’s second DABC hearing on whether to junk private club membership at bars saw overwhelming support for an end to the 40-year-old law. Except, that is, from a few bar owners.Although the hearing started with one citizen loudly insisting the liquor laws needed tightening rather than loosening--“and that if people don’t like it they can go elsewhere”--much of the evening was given over to a parade of tourist-related associations and bar owners and managers extolling the virtue of a world where out-of-towners wouldn’t have to scratch their heads in confusion or dismay over being asked for a cover charge and their private information when all they wanted was a beer.
Utah Tourism Industry Coalition’s Joel Racker said the elimination of private club membership would make Utah more hospitable. Utah Restaurant Association’s Hans Fuigi said it was painful for the state not to be able to provide visitors with the experience they deserve.
But for Three Alarm saloon owner Jack Carlton, private club membership is a blessing he doesn’t want to see taken away. He recounted a recent episode where his 100-pound female bouncer wrestled to the ground a drunk trying to get into the bar. A witness took a gun from his car and discharged it into the ground to stop the melee, according to Carlton. Resulting richochets hurt several bystanders, one seriously, he added. For Carlton the point was clear: checking for membership keeps the unwanted out. “If I don’t like him, I don’t have to sell membership,” he says. For another bar owner, membership meant a cozy social atmosphere, where bar and wait staff know their regulars. But another barman recalled his bar-hopping youth. He pointed out that club membership was not a deterrent to bar crawls, since each of his friends would have a membership to a different club.
Several speakers expressed concern about the social costs of liberalizing the liquor laws. Citizens for Families’ Valerie Mills spoke about the alcohol landscape and how Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.’s support of dismantling the private club law effectively sent a message to young people that alcohol had somehow “changed, that it was more benign.”
Former compliance officer Rick Golden, now a lawyer, closed the evening with a laugh. “Please don’t get rid of private club membership,” he told the commission. “We lawyers can’t take the cut in pay.” (Stephen Dark)
"100-pound female bouncer"
ReplyDeleteWhat?
The paragraph containing this sentence is stupid. Not because Mr. Dark's writing sucks but because the statement the stoolie bar owner made was completely false.
Bar owners/managers are supposed to refuse service to drunk people whether they have a membership or not.
The membership in no way exposed this man as drunk, as there would likely have been a bouncer/doorman (or 100 pound woman), regardless of membership laws. And if not, surely the bar tender would have refused to serve the drunk, as they are instructed by law.
I have no idea how this stoolie bar owner figures in the shooting as a positive factor or why he ever mentioned it in the first place. Wierd.
So there you have it. More examples of pro-membership logic!
It's obvious that there's overwelming support in the hospitality industry to end the private club system. I see Jack Carlton's oppostion to be more of a competion issue than a concern for safty. Eliminating the clubs will foster more competion, as they will be forced to contend with tavern owners who may opt to convert their establishments into full service bars. That may hurt private clubs closer to rural areas.
ReplyDelete"For Carlton the point was clear: checking for membership keeps the unwanted out. “If I don’t like him, I don’t have to sell membership,” he says."
ReplyDeleteBack east...there are clubs out there that will refuse to let you in based on what you're wearing..and they don't have a membership requirement.
"For another bar owner, membership meant a cozy social atmosphere, where bar and wait staff know their regulars."
I go to Skool Lunch on a frequent basis and the staff knows who I am...and they don't make me buy a membership. You do business at a place on regular business, overtime the staff tends to get to know you...membershiper holder or not.
"Several speakers expressed concern about the social costs of liberalizing the liquor laws. Citizens for Families’ Valerie Mills spoke about the alcohol landscape and how Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.’s support of dismantling the private club law effectively sent a message to young people that alcohol had somehow “changed, that it was more benign.”"
Hmm young people as in those under 21? Yeah, like a 19 y/o kid who wants to drink is going to complicate this already illegal activity by attempting to buy a memebrship. As for young people over 21..well guess what, they can buy alcohol at Walmart, The State Liquor store, the Bees game...all without having to buy a membership at any of those locations...so how does going to bar without a membership all of a sudden increase their desire to drink even more.
But wait this the same state where you have a certain town in the south end of Salt Lake County clamoring to criminalize teachers for answering the sex ed questions most parents won't in the midst of an increase of STDs among "young people".