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Summarized by Kent Larsen
LDS Church Against Changing Alcohol Laws for Olympics
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- The LDS Church released a statement yesterday urging
lawmakers to keep Utah's stringent alcohol laws intact, in spite of the
coming 2002 Olympic Games. The laws have been a source of contention for the
Olympics, with the Salt Lake Organizing Committee seeking to work within the
current laws and Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson asking the legislature
to loosen the laws.
In its statement yesterday, the LDS Church said, "The church opposes the
liberalization of Utah's state or local alcohol regulatory laws to
accommodate the 2002 Winter Olympics. Such an action would have an ongoing
effect on the citizenry of Utah long after the Olympics are over. Utah's
long-standing alcohol laws to protect the public health, safety and welfare
should not be eroded to appease short-term Olympic visitors to our state."
The statement is consistent with the Church's long-standing position on the
sale of alcoholic beverages.
The SLOC's Romney wants alcohol kept off of the medals plaza in downtown
Salt Lake City, but wants to allow alcohol sales at other Salt Lake City
"celebration" sites, which will have large video screens for viewing the
events. Romney says that the SLOC policy is, "First, to be gracious hosts,"
which he says requires serving alcohol. Second, to ensure alcohol sales and
promotion are not aimed at children. And third, to promote "responsible
drinking," Romney adds that the SLOC may have to apply for beer permits so
that most venues have beer available.
But Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson wants to go farther. He says Utah's
"unreasonable and extremely outdated" laws should be loosened. "Somebody has
to start the dialogue about reasonable change," Anderson said. In spite of
the Church's statement, he continued his call yesterday for permanent
change, "There seems to be a misconception that I'm only talking about
changing the liquor laws for the Olympics. I'm saying we need to liberalize
our liquor laws permanently."
Sources:
Change liquor laws permanently, not just for Olympics, Anderson stresses
Salt Lake Tribune 13Oct00 S1
By Glen Warchol: Salt Lake Tribune
Romney, SLOC Stick To Their Guns on Beer
Salt Lake Tribune 13Oct00 S1
By Mike Gorrell: Salt Lake Tribune
Don't change liquor laws, church says
Deseret News 12Oct00 S1
By Diane Urbani: Deseret News staff writer
LDS see no need to 'appease' Games visitors
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