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Because of studies showing Utah needs at least 12 more liquor stores than its current 45, lawmakers have committed to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to try and add one additional store a year.

They forgot to mention that they meant dog years.

The store that opened this week in West Valley City is the first new state-controlled liquor outlet in seven years.

That's because the DABC has difficulty finding site locations since cities often reject having a liquor store besmirching the purity of their communities.

In fact, the new 13,500-square-foot store in West Valley City — that city's second one — was originally planned for West Jordan, but leaders there rejected it.

So its location is at 5675 W. 6200 South in the parking lot of a Walmart Supercenter, which is right across the street from — you guessed it — West Jordan.

And who gets the city portion of sales tax money from that store? West Valley City, of course.

The store's products will still be easily accessible to West Jordan residents. It still will be visible to West Jordan children, especially when they go shopping with their parents at Walmart.

But West Valley City gets the financial boost.

Under Utah law, communities that host state liquor stores receive 0.5 percent of total sales generated at their store.

With $366 million in liquor store sales in 2016, the total point-of-sale distribution to cities was more than $1.83 million, according to a study by Zions Public Finance, a division of Zions Bank.

But while West Valley City can bask in its riches, West Jordan can gloat in its piety of still being (wink, wink) dry.

Supersizing baseball fans • Right when Utah is poised to lower the legal alcohol limit for drivers to 0.05 percent, baseball fans no longer have the option of buying a smaller-size beer at Salt Lake Bees games.

Patrons used to the have the option of buying a 24-ounce or a 16-ounce cup of regular beer. But the 16-ouncer is no longer available, leaving fans to pick between a supersize 24-ounce regular beer or a 20-ounce specialty craft brew.

You can get 12-ouncers on Thursdays — a promotional offer for what the caterers call "Thirsty Thursday" so fans can get cheaper drinks that one day.

And buy more of them?

Kraig Williams, the Bees' communications manager, said the caterers did away with the 16-ounce beers because they were not selling. The larger beers have always been more popular.

So just pace yourself at the ballpark, especially during the 2019 season, when the lower DUI limit will be in effect.

Great minds post alike • If you like Mia Love as Utah's representative in the 4th Congressional District, then of the Republicans running for outgoing Rep. Jason Chaffetz's seat in District 3, Keith Kuder is your candidate.

Kuder, a Utah County Republican activist, is one of the lesser-known hopefuls. But he apparently thinks, talks and writes just like Love.

After a shooter wounded a handful of people, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, at a Republican congressional baseball practice Wednesday, Love posted this on her Facebook page at 7:02 a.m.:

"It is unbelievable that someone would open fire on the GOP baseball practice today. My prayers go out to Whip Steve Scalise, those who were shot and those who were injured. Some people wonder why I get so concerned when people are stalking my home and taking pictures of me and my children. Or why some members of Congress refuse to put themselves in harm's way, allowing hundreds of people to yell at them with no real dialogue taking place. The hatred is so bad, it only takes one person to take a mother or father away from their children. As Americans, we can not accept this behavior. It is unacceptable."

A half-hour later, here is what Kuder posted on his Facebook page:

"It is tragic that someone would open fire on the GOP baseball practice today. My prayers go out to Whip Steve Scalise, those who were shot and those who were injured. As Americans, we can not accept this behavior. It is unacceptable."

The only difference: He hasn't been stalked or yelled at in a town hall meeting.

Wish you were here • Republican loyalists have been invited to a luncheon at the Alta Club on Friday, hosted by the Elephant Club, the party's chief fundraising arm.

The occasion is to welcome the party's new officers and salute the former officers, including outgoing Chairman James Evans.

There is only one problem: They forgot to tell Evans.

He didn't know about it until someone mentioned the event to him in passing. Regretfully, he has an out-of-town commitment and won't be there. Now, he worries party members will think he snubbed the event because he lost his bid for re-election.