Utah toasts new freedom in bar business

It is one of several rules governing alcohol in Utah that made the heavily Mormon state one of the toughest places in the nation to get a drink.

But some of that will change today when a new state law kicks in eliminating the need for people to become members of bars to go inside.

“I’ve owned clubs for eight years now, and I never thought this was going to happen,’’ said Jason Rasmussen, owner of A Bar Named Sue. “This is huge.’’

Bars and drinkers are so thrilled by the new rules that they are planning what is expected to be the largest pub crawl in state history today, complete with free shuttle buses and taxis to 16 bars to commemorate what some are calling Private Club Independence Day.

The change is being made in an effort to make the state more appealing to tourists and to give businesses and employees considering moving here one fewer reason to stay away.

“We’re rolling out the welcome mat to the world,’’ Governor Jon Huntsman, a nondrinking Mormon, said.

Huntsman wanted to scrap the private club system to improve economic development ever since taking office in 2005, but it wasn’t politically feasible until he won a second term in November by the largest margin in state history.

Huntsman had pledged not to seek a third term and was willing to spend political capital in a state primarily comprising teetotalers to usher in the changes.

About 60 percent of Utah residents and more than 80 percent of state lawmakers belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which tells its members to abstain from alcohol and has always helped shape alcohol policy in the state.

“This is going to be quite the legacy for him,’’ said Scott Beck, chief executive of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Center.

Beck said the top reason Salt Lake City loses convention business is because of a perception of a lack of nightlife and entertainment.

Although technically private, Utah’s bars have been open to anyone willing to fill out the membership form and pay a fee.