Utah’s “Zion Curtain” is a reference to partitions that were put up in order to block customers from seeing bartenders mix or pour alcohol. Because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has long discouraged the use of alcohol, Utah developed a reputation for having some of the strictest liquor laws in the country. The Zion Curtain was one product of Utah’s restrictive alcohol laws. We explore the purpose and the history of Utah’s Zion Curtain and what has since replaced it.
Supporters and Detractors of the Zion Curtain
Supporters of these Utah alcohol laws argue that barriers reduce the glamor of bartending while helping to discourage underage drinking. However, critics were quick to point out that the Utah Zion Curtain is awkward, unattractive and even more importantly, ineffective. Restaurant owners further argued that it confused visitors, hurt business and allowed an unfair advantage to restaurants that were “grandfathered” into not having to observe the law many years ago.
What Replaced the Zion Curtain?
For those of you who might be wondering what became of the Utah Zion Curtain, a slight turning point in the law surfaced in 2017. This is when the state passed House Bill 442. This was a sweeping alcohol reform measure that was passed by the Utah Legislature and signed by the then-governor of Utah. While this law did not remove all existing alcohol restrictions in restaurants, it did allow those venues to remove the Zion Curtain, but only if certain conditions were met. The primary condition was that restaurants still had to prevent minors from lingering too close to the bar where alcohol was mixed and served.
This was widely regarded as a solid compromise between modernization of Utah’s alcohol laws and the state’s longstanding desire to regulate booze. Problem solved, right? Well, now there is what is known as the “Zion Moat.”
The Zion Moat
As a result of this new compromise, restaurants have a few new options. They can retain their Zion Curtain or they can create a “no minors” buffer zone around the bar. There is also an option that will allow for the installation of a shorter barrier with a reduced setback. Practically speaking, this mostly means that minors must be seated at least ten feet away from a bar or five feet if there is a barrier of a specific height.
So, the Utah Zion Curtain still lives but in a slightly different form. This modernization of the law is a compromised win for Utah bars and restaurants. While the curtain is down, the drawbridge on the moat is up.
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