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SALT LAKE CITY — A majority of Utahns favor removing the barrier known as the "Zion Curtain" that shields restaurant patrons from liquor bottles and the pouring of alcoholic drinks, according to a new poll.
A total of 62 percent favor doing away with the barriers, including 41 percent who strongly favor their removal. Just under one-third, 31 percent, oppose getting rid of the barriers, including 20 percent who strongly oppose their removal.
The poll for the online political news source UtahPolicy.com was conducted Nov. 4-6 of 402 registered Utah voters by Dan Jones & Associates and has a margin of error of plus or minus about 5 percent.
Those surveyed were told restaurants have to "hide liquor bottles and the mixing of drinks behind a barrier — sometimes called the Zion Curtain — under the assumption that minors should not be enticed into believing liquor consumption was attractive."
Derek Monson, director of policy for the Sutherland Institute, said the poll results show "the other side has done a very effective job of getting the message out there that there's this thing called a 'Zion Curtain.'"
Using a "derogative term" to describe the barrier, Monson said, creates an emotional response that's negative. "It doesn't sound good. It sounds like pushing beliefs on people."
This is an effective way of putting moderate restrictions on certain forms of alcohol marketing.
–Derek Monson, Sutherland Institute
The conservative public policy think tank considers the barriers good policy, Monson said, because they send a message that alcohol is not just any product, but one that can cause harm to safety and health.
"Culture matters when it comes to problem forms of drinking, like underage drinking and binge drinking," he said. "This is an effective way of putting moderate restrictions on certain forms of alcohol marketing."
Melva Sine, head of the Utah Restaurant Association, said the group's No. 1 goal is to do away with the barrier requirement. Sine said she's not surprised Utahns support that goal in the poll.
"Hopefully, that will help the Legislature understand that Utah is evolving and it's time for us to address some of these critical issues for business and economic development," she said.
There's no benefit to having this. It doesn't do anything for Utah's image.
–Melva Sine, Utah Restaurant Association
The barrier has no impact on whether a young person chooses to drink, Sine said.
"There's no benefit to having this," she said. "It doesn't do anything for Utah's image."
Sine said there are already discussions about tackling the issue in the 2015 Legislature, which begins meeting in late January. Past attempts to change the barrier requirement have failed.
The requirement was passed by lawmakers in 2009 as part of sweeping legislation eliminating private club membership requirements. The bill allowed existing restaurants to keep their bar-type structures and prepare drinks in the open.
The sponsor of the legislation, former Sen. John Valentine, recently called the grandfathering of existing restaurants a mistake because some new restaurants are being hurt by the provision.
While Valentine, now chairman of the Utah State Tax Commission, did not offer any specific recommendations, options lawmakers could look at include making restaurant bar areas off-limits to underage customers.
