House members passed a bill Wednesday that would remove the 30 percent state liquor markup on wines produced in Utah.
Sponsor Dave Adams, R-Monticello, said the few wineries in the state are in his southwestern district and are suffering financially. "We need this to keep the industry financially viable," he said. Removing the 30 percent markup means, of course, that Utah wines will sell for less and thus be more competitive.The LDS Church has taken a stand against several liquor laws introduced this session. A church spokesman said church leaders are concerned about alcohol consumption, believing it a moral issue. The spokesman said all such matters should be considered carefully and probably studied more.
A bill that would have re-instated brown-bagging - where patrons take their own liquor bottles into a restaurant or beer bar - has already been sent to interim study.