The Buzz | US dry town mulls allowing alcohol

The rural Utah city of Blanding, one of the last “dry” communities in the Mormon-majority state, will ask voters tomorrow whether to allow beer and wine sales in town for the first time in more than 80 years.

Even though most locals are Mormon and their faith teaches its members to avoid alcohol, some restaurant and hotel owners say the city of 3,500 people needs to accommodate drinkers and the influx of tourists.

“I think that we shouldn’t be imposing our standards on other people,” said Sharon Guymon, a restaurant owner pushing for the change after years of customer complaints, including tourists sometimes storming out of her steakhouse after being denied a glass of wine.

Opponents of alcohol sales, like longtime resident and health department inspector Rick Meyer, said the prohibition is key to the city’s character and public safety. “You don’t see anybody drunk walking up and down the streets,” Meyer said.