Legislature Considers Bill to Prohibit Restaurants From Displaying Alcohol in Front of Children

Jan 06, 2009 by KCPW

(KCPW News) While the hospitality industry is calling for Utah's liquor laws to be relaxed, some legislators are heading in just the opposite direction. Tomorrow, the Administrative Rules Committee will discuss a bill that would prohibit restaurants from mixing drinks within the view of minors. Senate President Michael Waddoups, who's a co-sponsor, says restaurants should be required to make layout changes to protect children, even though it may be costly.

"Of course it's a problem, but so is properly refrigerating food a problem for some people, so is making sure that people have had proper food handling permits and training a problem for some people. That doesn't mean it can't be done and it doesn't mean it's not a good thing. They may have to extend a sheetrock wall that may cost a couple hundred dollars, that is a small price to pay for the safety and the mental future of our children," Waddoups said.

Waddoups says the shiny bottles and the atmosphere a bar provides lure children subliminally to want to drink alcohol. He says bars that can be seen by children are advertising alcohol to minors.

Although Governor Jon Huntsman has been trying to relax alcohol laws to encourage tourism, Waddoups believes he would support the bill.

"Well, if we have a good debate and we decide what the majority of the state's citizens want based on our debate, I think the governor will sign most any bills that we pass. He is a third branch of the government, he can veto anything he wants, I don't think he's going to veto something that protects the health of our children," Waddoups said.

Waddoups says because children's brains are undeveloped are more susceptible to alcohol damage, they need to be protected. If the committee approves the bill, it will be voted on in the general session starting later this month.

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