I would like to add that I am a bar, restaurant and hotel owner. I have owned and operated a liquor store in the past and am presently on our city's tourism committee.

While riding a chair at a resort this past trip, we were talking to a skier who was contemplating whether to buy a place in Utah or Colorado. He liked the skiing better in Utah but mentioned the alcohol laws were pushing him toward buying in Colorado.

I understood his view and also added that I often wondered why resorts in Utah don't promote après skiing like they do at resorts in other states. It would kill me as a bar and restaurant owner to see hundreds of potential customers and thousands of dollars walking by every day, month and season but I always just accepted it as the local culture.

I have never really had an issue with the alcohol ordinances because the quality and variety of skiing out-weighed the quirky alcohol laws. Until this day.

After skiing at Park City Resort, our group of three stopped by an establishment as we left the resort. We usually go inside to buy a couple of beers and sit outside.

First, when we entered the place we were told it is now a private club and we needed to buy a membership to enter. Since we were just stopping by and were not skiing again at Park City, I asked if someone could sponsor us. The doorman said no, and explained why he couldn't.

One person in our group doesn't drink, so we just said "no thanks" and left. Once outside I saw the door of the place I was accustomed to and went in and bought some cans of beer and then went outside to find a seat.

As we were sitting and talking, a waitperson from the private club in the fenced-in area asked us where we got the beer. I pointed to where I got them and she seemed satisfied with my answer. I got up to use the restroom before we left and while I was gone another person came up to my friends and questioned them again for the second time in 10 minutes.

I have no problem abiding by the law, but I do not appreciate and am offended by someone going out of their way to check to see if we are doing so. I do not understand why some places require a membership while others do not. What is the real point of a membership anyway?

There isn't any consistency and it just causes confusion and frustration, all of which leaves a negative impression while the state is trying to generate tourism dollars.

On our tourism committee we are always trying to find ways to not only get people to visit our community but also to return with new visitors. I imagine millions of advertising dollars are spent in the same manner in Utah.

It's a shame your whole multimillion-dollar advertising campaign is being undermined and compromised by hourly workers trying to enforce the laws set forth by the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

If Utah were to let the resorts promote après skiing with drink specials, relax some of the drinking ordinances and get rid of the memberships, would anarchy erupt? I doubt it. But getting in line and competing with resorts in every other state wouldn't hurt.

Disposable income dollars are scarce these days. Fuel prices have made for fewer and more expensive vacations. Consequently, discretionary spending has a lot of competition. Perhaps it is time for UDABC to work in concert with the people who visit and work in Utah.

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* GRANT MC GOVERN lives in Sun Prairie, near Madison, WI. He is managing partner in Mc Govern Enterprises and a real estate investor concentrating in income property.