Salt Lake City, UT (AHN) -- Bars and restaurants serving alcohol in Utah ended the practice of charging membership fees to beer, cocktail or wine drinkers as part of a new liquor law that took effect Wednesday.

The new law aims to attract more customers, diners and tourists to the state's bar clubs and restaurants. It will also end incidents of visitors walking out of restaurants upon learning they have to pay membership fees.

Part of the new state law also requires bar owners to buy driver's license scanners which are used on customers who look younger than 35 years old. The recorded information will later be verified in keeping with the state's strict ban on serving alcoholic drinks to people 35 years old and below.

Furthermore, the new law bans minors in bars, but allows them inside restaurants serving alcohol.

Utah's population is predominantly members of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who abstain from alcohol. But Scott Beck, president of the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, told Abc4.com "not having someone feel like our values are being imposed on them gives us a larger welcome mat" which is important in making Utah a tourist destination.

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