<P> Bruce Fery, CEO of The Grand America Hotel and Resorts and also a proponent of alcohol "normalization" in Utah, said, "From a guest service perspective, Utah's liquor laws are really awkward and make us look like we are still in covered wagons . Utah's liquor laws make us appear to be inhospitable ." He also cites many instances where out - of - towners were befuddled, put off, or downright angry at the policies that are in place to keep in accordance of the law . </P> <P> Unlike grocery stores, restaurants are able to apply for a license to sell and serve liquor, wine, flavored malt beverages, and heavy beer (over 3.2%). Limited restaurant licenses may not sell flavored malt beverages or distilled spirits . And while the restaurant may be able to obtain a liquor license, they are restricted to how and when they are able to serve alcohol . One such restriction is the "intent to dine" law; customers must have the intent to dine in order to be served an alcoholic beverage . Restaurants are only able to serve liquor from 11AM - midnight or 1AM, depending on the license, and many times the amount per glass is restricted . This creates problems with customers from out of town . Co-owner of Fratelli Ristorante, Dave Cannell, said, "People from out of state ask for a' real' glass of wine and I can't give them one...I can only give them 5oz per glass". </P> <P> The chain Capital Grille refuses to come to Utah due to the laws . Casual restaurants like Chili's and Applebee's have had to spend extra money on reconfiguring their restaurants' layouts in order to accommodate the laws and hide alcohol from view . Ruth's Chris, which has a large contingent of out - of - town businesspeople who are used to ordering alcoholic drinks after work, have to inform their patrons of laws requiring that no more than 1.5 oz. of alcohol be poured into any drink and that an order of a food item is also required . Out - of - state restaurants that rely heavily on brunch revenue would suffer due to the ban on bloody marys and mimosas before 12 p.m. </P> <P> Many chains fear they would face unfair competition and costs when going head - to - head with restaurants that are grandfathered in and not required to have the zion curtain installed . Restaurants that did not have zion curtains before May 12, 2009, are not required to build them, giving owners with those licenses a "grandfathered" bar structure . Any modification to the existing structure would result in the loss of the grandfathering . Hersh Ipaktchian, founder of Iggy's Sports Grill, says that factoring in costs to change floor plans would make it difficult and more expensive for him to expand . He indicated that he is looking for options to expand outside of the state of Utah . The Porcupine Pub and Grille also reported intent to expand outside of the state due to Utah's stringent and precarious liquor laws . </P>

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