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SALT LAKE CITY -- Salt Lake City's mayor is following the lead of the governor and the Utah Legislature by discussing changes to the city's liquor laws.
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker says he began talking about changing the city's liquor laws during his run for office, and one change he wants it to get rid of the restriction that only allows two bars per city block. He said, "We are going to be looking at how as liquor serving establishments are created and operated in our city."
They will also be looking at normalizing the city's ordinances. He said, "They have accumulated, literally, well over 100 years now, and some of them just done seem to make much sense."
He added, "As we make changes we look out for the safety of our public in terms of contributing in any way to drunk driving and other factors that really can put people in harm, but also protect our children.
"So we are going to be looking at a combination of changes that we think will make it a little more normal for, particularly people who are coming in from town and don't quite understand what seems to them to be the peculiarity of Utah's liquor laws and provide for business to be able to grow in our downtown areas and for people to enjoy themselves as they would expect to in the downtown and still look out for the public safety interest.
The city attorney is already looking at possible language for the proposals and Becker plans to discuss his plans with the City Council as soon as summer.
E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com
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