SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Legislative leaders unwilling to contemplate even small changes to liquor laws say the International Olympic Committee knew how Utah felt about liquor when Salt Lake City was picked to play host to the 2002 Winter Games.
The state gave its blessing to the Olympic bid on the condition it wouldn't have to bend its alcohol rules, Senate President Lane Beattie and House Speaker Marty Stephens said Thursday.
"The bottom line is we're going by the commitment that was made," Beattie said.
Added Stephens: "I'm not a big proponent of making changes to our liquor laws to accommodate the international community. We have a society here we are proud of."
The IOC's coordination commission on Wednesday asked Salt Lake City organizers to request that Utah authorities allow unfettered alcohol sales at the main press center, which will be set up at the Salt Palace convention center downtown for some 9,000 members of the media.
"As a Frenchman, I know that a Frenchman kept from his wine might get cranky," IOC spokesman Franklin Servan-Schreiber said.
Utah legislators are apt to get cranky if asked to change the liquor laws -- which traditionally does not occur unless Mormon church officials have given their consent to the changes.
