The House passed landmark liquor reform late Wednesday to shouts of "Cheers!" and raised cups from a number of House members.

"The stakeholders had very different definitions of what would be perfect, but we landed on good policy," said Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, the sponsor of the bill.

House Minority Leader David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City, said he recently attended a gathering of Utah tourism professionals who were wholeheartedly in support of reforming Utah's liquor laws.

"The professionals who are out there selling the state realize how important modernizing our liquor laws [is]," Litvack said. "It is an important economic tool."

The liquor bill compromise, which constitutes the most radical change in Utah's often arcane alcohol laws in four decades, was hammered out in lengthy negotiations involving the restaurant and hospitality associations and representatives from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the state's dominant religion.

"When you talk about alcohol reform, liquor laws in the State of Utah, there are some inherent stakeholders and yes, the LDS Church, this is one where they've shown concern how these laws are written and how they are followed," Hughes said.

The measure passed 65-5, but the Senate still must approve some minor corrections today before it is sent to the governor.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. made "normalizing" Utah's liquor laws one of his top priorities, with an eye toward helping the state's $6 billion a year tourism industry. More than half of Utahns in a Salt Lake Tribune poll also supported reforming liquor laws.

The bill would do away with Utah's one-of-a-kind private club law, which requires patrons to buy a membership to enter a bar. Instead, those appearing to be under age 35 would have their driver license scanned to verify their age. The information would be stored on site for seven days.

It would also require future restaurants to mix drinks away from the eyes of children, although existing restaurants would not have to change their layout. Restaurants could eliminate the so-called "Zion Curtain," a barrier that prevents bartenders from serving a drink across the bar.

As part of the agreement, other bills will also be passed to toughen penalties on drunken drivers and underage drinkers and increase the liability for bars that serve intoxicated patrons.