There is a growing recognition that the lack of liquor licenses available to restaurants is hindering business growth in Utah and something needs to be done, Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday.
This month, there is only one full-service restaurant license available and a number of applicants vying for the permit. National restaurant chains have been saying for more than a year that the lack of licenses is keeping them from opening eateries in Utah.
"I think there is a growing awareness that we need to make sure our liquor licenses line up with the demands, particularly restaurants and business establishments that want to come and relocate here in Utah," Herbert said during his monthly KUED news conference.
That doesn’t mean the state has to simply issue more licenses. There are ways that resorts, which have multiple licenses, could be given a single license, freeing up a handful of others.
"I think there is a growing concern and understanding that we are somehow out of sync. There are a couple ways to address that," he said. "But I think that it’s something that should be addressed and will be addressed."
But Herbert said he isn’t sure the issue is of a "sky-is-falling urgency" that would require a special legislative session, although he said it could be added to the agenda if there is a session convened to deal with other issues. Salt Lake Tribune
