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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat’s an Octoberfest without beer?
AP - SALT LAKE CITY Whats an Octoberfest without beer? Utah residents may soon find out.The Utah liquor commission put Snowbird ski resort officials on notice this week that it might not grant the permit for its Oktoberfest festival, held each weekend from Aug. 16 to Oct. 12. The commission is trying to rein in alcohol permits for special events as it reevaluates who should really be approved.
Were trying to send a signal that we are tightening up, state liquor commission chairman David Gladwell said during a monthly meeting Tuesday, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
The seven-person board approved a permit for the Snowbirds Fathers Day Brewfest in mid-June, but only following a lengthy discussion Tuesday. Gladwell said the commission is studying state law to determine if the single-event permits were designed for charitable organizations, and not businesses that use them to rake in profits.
Maybe we were allowing something that the Legislature had not intended? said Gladwell, the Deseret News reported.
Snowbird general manager Bob Bonar said he was surprised to learn two weeks ago that the commission was considering rejecting the permit for the Fathers Day Brewfest. He said hell work with the commission to ensure that it approves a permit for Oktoberfest, which has been held annually since 1973 and draws about 60,000 people.
Not having a liquor permit for Oktoberfest would hurt a lot, Bonar said. Its the second best thing we do after powder skiing.
Utahs liquor laws are regularly debated during the legislative session with many tourism, restaurant and bar owners pushing to normalize the laws to make the state friendly to out-of-state visitors.
Theyve successfully lobbied to change some rules, such as in 2009, when the state did away with a requirement for bars to operate as members-only social clubs, but hit a brick wall in the recent legislative session.
In January, just days before this years legislative session, the Mormon church issued a defense of Utahs liquor laws, calling on lawmakers to leave them alone and saying they keep residents safe.
Most Utah legislators are Mormon, and an estimated two-thirds of residents belong to the faith.
Avoiding alcohol use is a fundamental part of being considered a fully practicing member of the Mormon church, and those who drink face social stigma and are barred from worship in temples.
Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control executive director Sal Petilos told the Tribune that the board should only issue permits for special festivals and galas that are one-time events and last only a few days and are used by a civic or community group to promote a common good, the Tribune reports.
The second requirement is causing the hesitation in approving permits for Snowbird and other businesses. So far, two businesses have been denied.
Gladwell said the commission has not reached a consensus, the Deseret News reports.
Bonar argued before the commission that state law doesnt explicitly prohibit for-profits from getting the permits, meaning they shouldnt be automatically denied.
Adopting that takes Utah back 25 years, Bonar said.
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What’s an Octoberfest without beer? (Original Post)
PumpkinAle
May 2014
OP
Sounds like Brewfest and Oktoberfest need to find a charitable organization to benefit from...
Earth_First
May 2014
#5
Half-Century Man
(5,279 posts)1. Uh, a month?
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)2. What do you expect from a state where most of the legislators are mormon?
You can't live in Wackyville and then complain about their wacky laws.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)3. I think everyone in the US can expect separation of church and state
...regardless of what state it may be.
Blue Owl
(50,256 posts)4. It's like a Mormon without magic underwear
Or worse...
Earth_First
(14,910 posts)5. Sounds like Brewfest and Oktoberfest need to find a charitable organization to benefit from...
the events...