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Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman says he's against creating a statewide database that would track patrons' visits to bars.
He told The Associated Press that he's in favor of scanning drivers licenses to keep minors out of bars, but he says government shouldn't get into the business of keeping tabs on who drinks in the state. He says doing so would make Utah look even more odd.
The governor has been trying to get rid of Utah's private club laws since he took office. He says they're bad for tourism. He says the database would only add to the oddness of the state's statutes and calls it "Orwellian."
Some lawmakers are considering creating a database as part of a compromise to eliminate the state's private club system.
Utah is the only state in the country that requires customers to fill out an application and pay a fee to enter a bar.
Proponents of the database say it would tip off law enforcement and reduce DUIs.
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
