Private Clubs to be Abolished?

Are private club membership fees soon to be a thing of the past?

The 10 O'Clock Hour Rundown

We have weird liquor laws. Some of our laws meant to discourage liquor drinking have been counter-productive.

Doug said sometimes places that serve alcohol have good entertainment or food. Doug had to buy a membership to get into a club when he had no intention of drinking. He never saw a drop of alcohol. It was morning and breakfast was being served.

An e-mail asked why we can’t adopt Idaho’s liquor laws. Is Idaho an alcohol-soaked wasteland of sin and debauchery?

One caller said she hates seeing Utah becoming so tolerant of alcohol. Doug asked if it’s tolerant, or just realistic? Latter-Day Saints can’t expect everyone to live the LDS lifestyle. There’s plenty of reason to revisit some of our strange liquor laws.

Another caller who works in the hospitality industry said mandatory membership for alcohol-serving clubs is really just another fee. Having to buy a membership won’t stop people from drinking. Doug couldn’t think of a single person in hospitality who thought it was a good idea.

A bar owner weighed in on mandatory club membership. He said we turn the bouncer, who is supposed to be watching out for minors and keeping intoxicated people from driving, into a bureaucrat. He can’t do his job because he’s dealing with club memberships, which guest is with which member, and all the other paperwork that goes along with the mandatory membership laws.