With little pomp and no discussion the City Council unanimously enacted a six-month moratorium on beer-sale licenses Tuesday night.
The vote was the result of the area's anti-alcohol lobby, which calls itself the Draper-South Sandy Combined Committee Against Public Intoxication. The group lost its fight last week to block a city alcohol permit issued to Jake's Steak House at 1320 E. 12300 South and a Chevron gas-and-food store at 1302 E. 12300 South.
But 646 signatures on a petition against the licenses were enough to convince the council to adopt the moratorium, during which time the city will think about whether to enact a ceiling on beer-sales permits.
Not everybody is gung-ho about cracking down on alcohol sales, though.
"I don't have a big problem with the moratorium, but I don't believe in legislating morals," said Mayor Elaine Redd. "I may lose my church job, but oh well. I just don't believe restaurants are the problem as far as drinking's concerned."
A half-dozen stores in Draper have city permits, enabling them to sell beer and wine coolers. Two eateries - Jake's and Gua-da-la-hon-ky Mexican Restaurant - have similar permits.
Draper, because of its upscale land values and affluent population, is likely to be the future site of additional restaurants similar to those.
Hard-liquor sales are regulated by the state, and Guadalahonky's is the only Draper business with a state liquor permit, though Jake's will probably receive one. Draper does not have a liquor store.
To receive a state permit, businesses must have the blessing of local government.
Stores in Draper that have city permits allowing beer sales include Walker's Food & Fuel, 7-11, Circle K, Texaco, Albertsons and Payless Drugs.
Opponents say they are defending the fast-growing city's small-town values, which they maintain are crumbling in the face of demographic changes bringing a more diverse population to the bedroom community.
Supporters of last's week license issues framed the issue as one of choice. They included business owners who said beer and liquor sales help them compete with enterprises in neighboring Sandy.
City Manager David C. Campbell said long-established legal precedent allows Utah cities to limit alcohol sales.
Tuesday's four-member council quorum included D. Paul Lunt, Darrel H. Smith, Randy Gainer and Jeff Rasmussen.