Alcohol socially (Ogden, St. George, Cedar City: condo, home, to buy)

[midwest2001]

I have read that there are only 2 liquor stores in St. George and that this is in keeping with LDS preferences for not drinking. Does this create a social gap or problem for those who do enjoy a fine bottle of wine or a good cold beer?

[toby04]

Yeah, sometimes. Harder to find a place to have a drink with a meal, or much choice. But on the plus side, much less DUI's! Not sure about St. George, but in Cedar City, very few places to gather for "Happy Hour". When I first moved here from California 13 years ago, I was dismayed that I could not have pizza and beer! Now, it does not bother me a bit. It is part of the lifestyle I love here!

[karenSG]

Yes, and that is a polite understatement. I used to like pizza with wine or Mexican food with margaritas, but since my lifestyle changed that is not a deal breaker any more. If my husband were still alive and retired here with me, it would be! Even when you seek out a restaurant and bar combo (the only option for liquor with eats), the specialty drinks are very few in variety, weak on alcohol, and tend to be overly expensive. You'll never be able to choose wine or liqueur in the store where you're shopping for food. State law runs the liquor stores, which have limited hours and selections. Here's the kicker--when I went out for early lunch (11:30) on a special occasion, being ignorant, we ordered drinks first so we could enjoy them while chatting over the menu. After waiting and waiting--no drinks. The waitress kept trying to take our order. Being in a stubbornly celebratory mood, I refused, still waiting. Finally she told us they couldn't serve alcohol with food before 12:00, but we could get a drink at the bar and wait there if we wanted to!! I do not drink often, and then not much, so this is mostly a problem for me only in my head. The absence of freedom of choice is the real issue. Not that a very large specialty drink with 3/4 oz alcohol that you pay $9 for can't be an issue!!

[crashingsucks]

This is a very safe city but if you go to the Washington County(Saint George) arrest report web site more than half of the arrest are for drunk driving or public intoxication. I was surprised when I moved here from California that the beer is made weaker. I didnt realize name brand beers made the alcohol content in their beers different for certain states. So sadly people drive down to Mesquite to buy either more powerful(normal)beer or kegs which are illegal here too. But with all these strict rules you still see a few people getting areested for drinking.

[irman]

Proves one thing ...

Originally Posted by karenSG

Yes, and that is a polite understatement. I used to like pizza with wine or Mexican food with margaritas, but since my lifestyle changed that is not a deal breaker any more.

You get used to everything .. Even hanging .... sooner or later ...

If my husband were still alive and retired here with me, it would be! Even when you seek out a restaurant and bar combo (the only option for liquor with eats), the specialty drinks are very few in variety, weak on alcohol, and tend to be overly expensive. You'll never be able to choose wine or liqueur in the store where you're shopping for food. State law runs the liquor stores, which have limited hours and selections.

It's the law Ma'm .... Do not like it, get together with a lot of other people and try to change it. As far as I know, we still live in some kind of democracy, no ???

Here's the kicker--when I went out for early lunch (11:30) on a special occasion, being ignorant, we ordered drinks first so we could enjoy them while chatting over the menu. After waiting and waiting--no drinks. The waitress kept trying to take our order. Being in a stubbornly celebratory mood, I refused, still waiting. Finally she told us they couldn't serve alcohol with food before 12:00, but we could get a drink at the bar and wait there if we wanted to!!

Neat story (seems you have a sense of humor ...), did not know that, but then I do not need to have a *drink* before my meals.

I do not drink often, and then not much, so this is mostly a problem for me only in my head. The absence of freedom of choice is the real issue.

Absence ?? Nobody made you come here, so if you do not like something, try to change it, and if that does not work, leave and find another place where you might be more happy. You have the freedom of choice to leave ...
Freedom of choice ? I hope you adhere to the rules of traffic .. ???
They *make you do it*, although many do not like it and largely ignore traffic laws. In my opinion, traffic laws in Utah are just a philosophy, not necessary a law .

Not that a very large specialty drink with 3/4 oz alcohol that you pay $9 for can't be an issue!!

I agree, kind of stiff price for stiff drink, no ?

In the end, It is my opinion that you are a very good example of a displaced person, who in the end made the best of it. You adapted (you call it lifestyle change). You have a good sense of humor, since you did not make a big deal of that funny law of not able to enjoy a *drink* before 12 .... (I wonder .. what makes it *bad* before 12 ... ?)

My case.. ? I was utterly frustrated when we moved here.
Could not stand it.
I got used to it by the three stage method:
1 - You abhor it.
2 - You condone it.
3 - You embrace it.
Uhmmm ... after umpteen years, I am in several stages, depending on what it is .....
For sure, I would NOT live anywhere else.

Last but not least, I have absolutely no idea why so many *out of staters*, are not aware of the quirky laws (philosophies) we have here .....
1 - the state is called UTAH .... duuuuhhhhh ......
2 - you bloody know (think) very well, .... full of LDS people,
----actually not that many really active .....
3 - What did you expect ?????

What about smoking laws ..
Can not smoke in that building ... geesj ....
Smoke outside, but remember what 25 feet away is like ....
Or smoke at home only ...
So ...
Can not drink alcohol ..... ? Drink at home .....
Oh well ....

[markg91359]

I have read that there are only 2 liquor stores in St. George and that this is in keeping with LDS preferences for not drinking. Does this create a social gap or problem for those who do enjoy a fine bottle of wine or a good cold beer?

.................................................. .................................................. ....

I am LDS although in my younger years I drank, so I see both sides of this.

I'll start by saying that whenever someone who plans on moving to Utah brings up the need for alcohol, a nightlife, or asks how many establishments there are that serve liquor in a community I immediately wonder if Utah is there best choice as a place to move. Almost everyone knows that Utah was founded by the Mormons and that Mormons have religious tenets against alcohol use. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that in a state where 70% of the population is LDS that liquor is more restricted and harder to get than elsewhere.

Even so, liquor is obtainable virtually everywhere in the state on some terms. There is a state run liquor store in every city of any significant size. There are stores in Panguitch, Kanab, St. George, Cedar City, Moab, Price, and a bunch of small places I can't even think of. Every grocery store can sell 3.2 beer and every grocery store I'm aware gets a beer license from the local city council and does so.

The bottomline to our liquor laws can be summarized like this:

1. We believe that adults have the right of reasonable access to liquor and alcoholic beverages.

2. We believe that the more prevalent alcohol is in society that the more likely we are to see increased drunk driving, as well as the fatalities and injuries that go along with it.

3. We believe that the safest and best place for someone to consume alcohol is not in a bar and certainly not in an automobile. The safest place for such consumption is in someone's own home. That's why when you go to a liquor store nothing is refrigerated. You take you liquor to your home, refrigerate it, and drink it there.

4. We don't have a problem with someone having a drink with a meal. Many restaurants have a liquor license. The only thing they insist on is that you order food as well as liquor because the idea is that the drink is secondary to the meal. The restaurant is not simply a bar with a different name stuck on it.

These attitudes are not shared by many around the country. We realize this. We welcome diversity in Utah and try to accommodate everyone including those who drink. At the same time there are public safety issues involved with alcohol. We are proud of the fact that we have the lowest rate of drunk drivers, and deaths related to drunken driving of any of the fifty states. Our laws are unlikely to change much. Those who are thinking of moving here must realize that.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

I really appreciate the alcohol and smoking laws here! I do feel safer on the roads than in other places, certainly far fewer daytime drunks. And I loooove having no smoke in my food when I eat out.

[.RYAN]

The no smoking thing has been around in other states for so long, I couldn't imagine a place that allows it.

[Mauka]

The drinking laws do not bother me.

I have a friend who used to live in Chile, he said there is a saying, "Live in Chile, play in Argentina".
I think you can use that here..."Live in Utah, Party in Las Vegas".

Still, you can find some good booze parties and clubs in northern Utah, PC and SLC and even Ogden have some good things going.

STG is just too small at this point.

Live in St. George, party in Mesquite.

[irman]

What *MAUKA* mentioned ....

Do not complain !
Seems like the characteristics where people excell in
are
rationalising
complaining
blame storming

Do something about it !!! ...
Or get used to it ..