News Story - Idaho State Journal

BOISE - It's unlikely that work currently being done by a governor-appointed task force will lead to any legislation being introduced in 2008 to change Idaho's liquor laws, an official said.

''We don't have anything, we have nothing drafted, there are no proposals, and we're still collecting data,'' said Jon Hanian, spokesman for Gov. C.L. ''Butch'' Otter. ''It's unlikely we're going to be proposing something because we still have a lot of work to do.''

Opponents of changes to Idaho's liquor laws say they fear the possible elimination of the state's quota system will devalue licenses that currently exist. The state allows one liquor license for every 1,500 residents.

In November, The Times-News reported on a draft rewrite of Idaho's alcohol laws. Some liquor license holders and others recently formed the Idaho Beverage Coalition to try to prevent changes, particularly to the quota system.

Brian Donesley, an attorney and coalition member, said removing the quota system would reduce the value of liquor licenses. He said that in the resort town of Ketchum, a license is worth about $500,000, and that one in Boise about $150,000.

Those values would decline sharply without the quota system, he said, adding that people who currently hold licenses obtained them with the belief the quota system would continue.

''There's a contract and understanding between the state and people'' who hold liquor licenses, said Donesley. ''Governor Otter is in breach of that in what he's proposing, and he appears insensitive to basic issues of fairness.''

Hanian said state officials are aware of that liquor licenses could lose their value if the quota system is removed.

''That is certainly one of the issues we're grappling with,'' Hanian told The Associated Press on Thursday.

This document was originally published online on Friday, December 14, 2007

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