Exclusive Poll: Utah's Liquor Laws Hurt Tourism and Economic Development

Peculiar" state we live in, innit?

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To kick off our Monday morning WCF discussion, we'll shine the spotlight on a last week's UtahPolicy.com poll, which revealed, among other things, that "[a] solid majority of Utahns say the state's liquor laws hurt economic development and tourism in the state. Our UtahPolicy.com poll finds 69% of Utahns feel the state's restrictive liquor laws put a damper on economic development and tourism":

• Exclusive Poll: Do Utah's Liquor Laws Hurt Tourism and Economic Development?

Just like clockwork. the "telling" polling results concerning this Utah "hot button" issue provoked the Salt Lake Tribune to then unleash a flurry of followup stories and editorial commentary:

• Utahns want to tear down Zion Curtain, poll says
• Poll: Utah’s quirky liquor laws seen as hurting tourism, business
• Editorial: Utahns want a shot of logic with their alcohol laws

Governor Herbert ain't buying this new polling evidence however. Herbert "thinks Utah's liquor laws are effective and not hampering the economy, as some have argued." Herbert no doubt doesn't "give a fig" what Utah Lumpencitizens "think," we suppose :

• Guv says Utah’s alcohol laws do no harm

Nevertheless, for the benefit of any WCF readers who may be concerned about our Zion's Zions's Curtain Law"silly", we invite you to check out the below-linked Salt Lake Tribune video story: featuring Utah House Representative Craig Powell, the GOP state legislator who plans to again run (for the third time) a "Zion Curtain repeal bill" during the 2015 Utah legislative session, as he and Melva Sine, ot the Utah Restaurant Association, now grapple with and "flesh out" the competing Zion's Curtain issue(s):

• Trib Talk: Tearing Down the Zion Curtain

Alas, this 30-minute question and answer-style video presentation did not include input from the single Utah liquor law "stakeholder" whom, in the final analysis, will, in truth be "calling the shots." 

Keep your eyes on this space, O Gentle Readers, as we follow Representative Powell's courageous attempt to move his "remedial" bill forward through the 2015 "Churchislature."

"Peculiar" state we live in, innit?

Update 11/17/14 5:00 p.m.: Even the Standard Examiner editorial board is getting in on the act:

• Our View: Lead liquor reform, governor