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After a yearlong "cooling-off" period for liquor law changes, Sen. John Valentine said Friday he is about to propose several new ones — from allowing hotel room service to deliver single drinks (instead of entire bottles) to making more restaurant liquor licenses available.

Valentine, R-Orem, said he is still writing his bill but outlined for reporters main items that he expects to include.

First, he said he hopes to fix a problem caused by new Census counts coming in lower than earlier state population projections. Because the number of liquor licenses made available is based on population, the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has said, the state issued more liquor licenses in all categories than it should have under current law.

Valentine said his bill will "readjust the formulas to the current level of licenses that are in place," so no current license holders will lose them. "Then it will add a total of 40 new restaurant licenses," including 25 that allow only beer and wine and 15 that allow full drink service.

Valentine said, "My view is that it is better to serve alcohol with food than it is to just serve alcohol by itself."

Rep. Gage Froerer, R-Huntsville, is sponsoring similar legislation in the House. HB42 would convert 41 unused beer bar licenses into 21 restaurant permits allowing all types of alcohol and 20 for beer or wine service only. That measure is awaiting floor debate after passing out of committee.

Back in the Senate, Valentine also is pushing to change how hotel room service can serve drinks.

"Our present law requires if you want a drink in your room, room service brings up the bottle and mixes a drink and leaves the bottle because you bought the whole bottle," he said. Valentine said hotels told him they would prefer to be able to deliver just the single drinks ordered, as allowed in most states.

Valentine said that may lead to less drinking because "You think, 'I paid for this [whole bottle], so I may as well drink it.' "

Valentine also says he will seek to allow those who sell restaurants or other licensed establishments to also sell their liquor license to the buyer, with state approval.

"Currently, if you want to buy a restaurant that has a license, you can buy the restaurant all right but … that license will go back into the pool and you may or may not get the license," he said.

Valentine said the bill will also create new licenses for reception centers. Current licenses for them would disappear after July 1, unless the Legislature acts, he said. He said his bill will also require taverns to screen driver licenses electronically for proof of age, as other bars and social clubs must do.

Valentine said he has been meeting with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to seek its support. "They have not made any public statements yet," he said. "I haven't got the bill for them to read. But I've been meeting with them, and hopefully they'll come along."