There is more to be said than was covered in the editorial "Precious permits: New round of liquor licenses needed" (Our View, Jan. 29), which argues that the lack of liquor permits will have a "chilling effect" on the creation of new restaurants in "our barely warming economy."

Been around downtown recently? With the bars that have been added in the last two years, the number of stools far exceed demand. Even when the Outdoor Retailer show is here, few are anywhere near full. The same is true for higher-end restaurants. Our few high-end conventions can't sustain all these destinations. How many more establishments can this population support? And despite the editorial's assertion, we don't need any more chain restaurants; we're chained up!

So if the Legislature were to allow additional liquor licenses for 2011 or '12, this area would not be the least bit affected economically, one way or another. The economic argument's a nice ruse to get more liquor licenses, but we're saturated.

Alan Ireland

Salt Lake City