Show TAKE ONE DOWN PASS IT AROUND By Adam Walden V. V Community Editor A new bill now in the works will affect many of those who spend their leisure time knocking back backa a cold one John Valentine R- R Orem has proposed a new bit of legislature that will increase the license fee associated with the selling of alcohol The new bill will also try to bar all under-aged under patrons that frequent any of their local bars clubs or any place which sell alcohol This has raised many tempers and also much attention from the media Wednesday the new changes were approved by the Utah Wholesale Beer Distributors Association Also on Wednesday the second public hearing on the bill was held in which several club owners had the chance to speak their minds on the issue which would ultimately ultimately ultimately ulti ulti- affect them and their businesses Jesse Shelter owner of Park City's No Name Saloon according according according accord accord- ing to The Salt Lake Tribune said A proposed barring of miners from private clubs primarily primarily primarily prima prima- rily for social drinking would be catastrophic to hi his busin business ss because visitors with children wo would ld be barred fr from m dining The change would wipe out a significant part of his income Other owners also complained about the negative affect the new law would have on their busi busi- nesses The bar to miners in these establishments would also prohibit prohibit prohibit pro pro- hibit them from keeping under aged cleaning and kitchen staff and also bar family members who dont don't fit the criteria to visit the clubs The bill is supported by three major interest groups the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control the hospitality ty industry and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Latter Saints We started meeting with industry groups in May and June But work on the concepts in the bill started five or six years ago says Nick Hale Commission chairman By and large the bill bin is the product of seeking public interest Alcohol regulation in this state is an emotional issue an extremely emotional issue continued continued continued con con- Hales Much of the concern about the bill comes from the states state's drinkers They felt uneasy that the only religious or non busi ness organization invited to participate participate participate par par- in the drafting of the bill was the Church of Jesus Christ Not true says c chairman Nick Hale who said All th the i groups that have an interest in the issue in the past were invited to participate However in support of the club owners and the states state's drinkers civil liberties attorney Brian Barnard stated as written the law allows no such thing in reference to Hales' Hales assurance in continuing to allow underage people into these clubs so long that it maintained significant barriers separating minors from those of drinking age If Hales and Valentine are saying they will win change the proposed proposed proposed pro pro- posed legislation that is great said Barnard If Hales and Valentine are claiming that the proposed legislation includes significant barriers' barriers and minors are allowed in all private clubs that serve fine food then they are speaking something other than the truth Barnard also warned the ABC commissioners many of the new regulations are not only unworkable unworkable unworkable able but even possibly C |