Close your eyes, kids! Don’t look at the scary bottle of chardonnay! People in Utah apparently think it’s harmful for children to see servers pour alcohol. In 2010, the state lifted a mandate that required bars to operate as members-only clubs, but there was a compromise: At restaurants that have been open for less than three years, servers can’t pour alcohol in front of patrons. Now lawmakers are considering repealing the ridiculous “Zion curtains” rule, which requires bartenders to make drinks out of sight, like they’re cocaine dealers. (One of the bill’s notable opponents, Republican State Senator John Valentine, says, “Alcohol is a drug.”) The law is crippling for new restaurants; not only do they have to waste money building special service bars, they also have to cut back on tables to make room for them. And pouring booze in the back causes customers to think a restaurant’s being shady. “It lessens consumer confidence,” says Melva Sine, president of the Utah Restaurant Association. “We have got to stop feeling like everyone who drinks alcohol is doing something wrong.” Preach. [AP]
