Bob Bernick, Utah Policy Contributing Editor
Rep. Ryan Wilcox, R-Ogden, could see the writing on the window – so to speak – and with opposition from Senate Republicans and without the approval of leaders of the LDS Church, has given up on his attempt to remove the glass or solid wall that new restaurants must put up so minors and other patrons don’t see mixed alcoholic drinks being prepared.
Wilcox, in arguing for his original bill doing away with the barriers, said it was just silly to assume that minors or other restaurant patrons would be influenced to drink booze just by seeing mixed drinks prepared.
But Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, who has run a number of church-approved changes to state liquor law in recent years, objected to removing of the barrier – dubbed the "Zion Curtain" by certain wags in the media.
Another GOP senator told UtahPolicy that church leaders did care about the "Zion Curtain," and did not agree with Wilcox's original attempt to remove that requirement.
Valentine said Tuesday morning that with Wilcox’s approval, the original Wilcox bill and Valentine’s changes (along with some other lawmakers’) would be wrapped up into one liquor bill this session – HB228 as amended.
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