The new Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City is scheduled to open this fall, but first Salt Lake County has to install a so-called “Zion Ceiling” to keep alcohol in the theater’s bistro out of public view. The problem with the bistro at Eccles Theater is the area where drinks will be made doesn’t have a ceiling, so patrons on all four floors above can view the bar area.
“The DABC is not interpreting the law," says Terry Wood, a spokesperson for the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. "We have to enforce the law. And as part of our compliance division, we make sure that anybody obtaining a liquor license, any form of liquor license, meets the requirements set forth in state law.”
Wood says Salt Lake County, which operates the theater plans to fix the problem immediately. And the extra work won’t interfere with the October opening.
“It’s just a small portion that has to be covered on the top of the storage area, so it should be fairly easy to accomplish," Wood says.
The “Zion Ceiling” comes from the term “Zion Curtain”, which describes the wall that restaurants are required by law to install to keep restaurant patrons from seeing bartenders mixing cocktails. Some state lawmakers want to get rid of that rule calling it unnecessary and a financial burden to restaurant owners. Supporters of the "Zion Curtain" say it protects families and children.
