Comments on: Looser alcohol laws: a losing proposition

By: Derek H Monson

Derek H Monson — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:13:00 +0000

Larry,

Just because there are some bad apples in the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control does not necessarily mean that Utah’s alcohol control laws are flawed. To me it seems that the problem is poor oversight mechanisms, not really bad alcohol control laws.

Also, I find it hard to believe that “most” Utahns travel all the way to another state to get alcohol when there are state liquor stores and bars located within a reasonable distance of the majority of Utah’s population. For instance, are you saying that someone in the Salt Lake Valley will drive for hours to Nevada, Wyoming, or Idaho just to get a drink when they have several state liquor stores and bars (The Salt Lake Tribune recently published a list of “50 Great Bars in Salt lake City”) less than 30 minutes away? Doubtful.

By: Larry Vojtecky

Larry Vojtecky — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:42:00 +0000

The problem you failed to point out concerning Utah’s liquor laws is the resent scandal that involves Liquor Commission higher ups who have been manipulating the system for years. Don’t praise the control of alcoholic beverages when those leaders who were entrusted to enforce those regulations only did so to line their own pockets! To me this points out a failure in the current laws and those laws now need to be changed. Utah loses out on millions of dollars on tax revenue involving alcoholic beverages because most Utahns travel to Nevada, Idaho, or Wyoming to purchase alcoholic beverages. Drinking is a personal choice and we will be hard pressed to try to stop people from doing so if they so chose to. The laws need to be changed because we can no longer trust those who are suppose to enforce these great and wonderful alcohol laws. The failure is on the part of the government, who regulates the regulators?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:43:00 +0000

If snake oil is allowed in the neighboring town (and not my own town) and the neighboring town gets to keep the revenue from my next door neighbor going to get his snake oil there I would just as soon he be allowed to buy his snake oil in my town. I think it bizarre that we make people drive miles to buy their alcohol.

By: Research backs up Utah’s alcohol laws | Sutherland Daily

Research backs up Utah’s alcohol laws | Sutherland Daily — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:52:17 +0000

[...] are supportive of Utah’s alcohol control laws. Certainly, some will still oppose them for various economic, philosophical or other policy reasons. But the argument that “no research exists” to support [...]