SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 3, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has decided not to enforce any actions against Brewvies while their lawsuit continues against the State of Utah.
The theater was put under fire after two DABC undercover officers attended a showing of the movie “Deadpool.” Shortly after, a complaint was filed against Brewvies because Utah law prohibits anyone with a liquor license from showing movies that show sex acts and full nudity.
The law investigators cited is a state obscenity law used to regulate alcohol and nudity at strip clubs, which are required to have dancers wearing G-strings and pasties if the club serves liquor.
However, the regulation also bans the showing of any film with sex acts or simulated sex acts, full-frontal nudity or the “caressing” of breasts or buttocks. This statute applies to businesses with liquor licenses only, so most Utah movie theaters are not under the law’s jurisdiction.
The complaint filed stated that the theater violated a state obscenity law by serving drinks while screening “Deadpool,” which features simulated sex scenes.
Brewvies’ management, with the help of attorney Rocky Anderson, has filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Utah, stating the liquor law violates First Amendment rights to free speech.
