The Latest: Herbert signs bill allowing Zion Curtain changes


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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Latest on changes to Utah liquor laws (all times local):

5:25 p.m.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has signed legislation that overhauls alcohol licensing and rules about serving drinks in restaurants.

Herbert's said in statement Tuesday evening that changes will make restaurant licensing fairer and give establishments options and time to comply with the law.

Under the law, restaurants starting July 1 can take down their barriers nicknamed "Zion Curtains" that block customers from seeing drinks being made if they instead make other changes to keep children away from bars.

The Zion Curtain barriers are generally bars surrounded by translucent glass or a back room. The new law allows restaurants to instead set up buffer-zones around their bars for those 21 and older to watch drinks being made.

It also makes changes to licensing, alcohol pricing and a number of other liquor policies.

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3 p.m.

Utah restaurants and liquor bosses are gearing up for major changes under legislation Gov. Gary Herbert is expected to sign that overhauls alcohol licensing and rules about serving drinks in restaurants.

Nina McDermott with Utah's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said Tuesday that the department is receiving lots of calls from restaurants trying to figure out how and when they can comply with the changes and take down their barriers nicknamed "Zion Curtains" that block customers from seeing drinks being made.

McDermott says the department is preparing to review restaurant remodeling plans before restaurants can make changes July 1.

McDermott also says the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission's April meeting may be the last chance for commissioners to hand out certain licenses and grant exceptions to rules about how close restaurants and bars can be to community locations.

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