My Tribune colleague Dawn House reports happy news for Utah residents who want to be treated like adults: The state's liquor control commissioners are recommending the end of Utah's byzantine system of private-club membership.

For those who have never tried to buy anything harder than apple juice in Utah, private clubs are sort of a legalized speakeasy system in which patrons had to pay a fee - either an annual membership, or short-term stays - just to get into a bar that served hard liquor.

On Wednesday, the Utah Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission voted 4-1 to direct staff members to write legislation, to be submitted at January's session of the Utah Legislature, that would essentially turn private clubs into public bars. The board also voted to do away with the "Zion Curtain," the ridiculous requirement of partitions between the bar and the restaurant sections of an establishment.

The legislation has the support of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who says Utah's complicated and confusing liquor laws are hurting tourism.

But don't get your hopes up yet, imbibers of Utah. Opponents of the change, including representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, are pushing an alternative: A "welcome card," so tourists could pay a one-time membership fee to get into any private club for two weeks. Utah residents, apparently too immature to be trusted with this onerous responsibility without going on immediate drinking binges, would be denied this service.

MADD has a powerful ally in House Speaker Greg Curtis (pictured), who said he leans toward the "welcome card" proposal. Quoting the Tribune story:

Curtis, a Sandy Republican, expressed concern about any change to liquor laws, saying he is fearful that if membership requirements are abolished, imbibers, especially young drinkers, will barhop "buying three drinks here, there and everywhere." "Those same drinkers could also get behind the wheel, causing more drunk-driving accidents."

Having tourists go bar-hopping and smashing up their rental cars, though, is OK with Curtis. So is trusting out-of-staters over his own neighbors.

Labels: alcohol laws