That Utah needs to increase its number of liquor outlets is obvious. Our state has fewer than one outlet per 1,000 adults in Utah. Compare those numbers to Montana, which has 3.4 outlets per 1,000 adults, or Wyoming, which has 3.13 outlets, or California, which has 1.65 outlets, or even Idaho, which has 1.110 outlets per 1,000 adults.
Legislators' refusal to allow more licenses has an adverse economic impact on our state. The lack of access to liquor licenses has prevented the Darden Restaurant Group from opening 12 outlets in Utah. According to Coldwell Banker Commercial, that costs Utah almost $3 million in tax revenues a year.
The usual argument by legislators is that more liquor licenses will lead to more underage drinking and drunken driving. Frankly, that's just a cover for the real reason liquor is stifled in this state, which is cultural antipathy -- from most legislators -- to alcoholic beverages and social drinkers. It's this kind of cultural bigotry that turns otherwise fiscal conservatives into Carrie Nation progressives when the issue on the table is liquor.
