So, this is probably not the most appropriate post for an HR Director, but well, have you met me? I still find unique ways to toss in a “that’s what she said” into conversation (including a few interviews), so appropriateness was checked at the door a bit ago. Anyway, I just got back from Utah with my mother and aunt for a girl’s weekend (yes, folks, this is the face of only children everywhere). I leave Utah with this thought: What the hell? I just want a drink!!! It is estimated that nearly 60% of the state’s population are Mormon. I am down with that…I watch Big Love and that very special Oprah interview. I am super liberal and believe that all religions and factions and whatever else should coexist peacefully. Until you start messing with my wine consumption. I’m no alcoholic, but I will say that at the end of a long day of insurance company fights and city noise, nothing quite beats a glass of Sancerre. And when you are on vacation? Make that 2 or 3…okay, 4. So, imagine my surprise when I got wind of some of the very archaic laws that Utah has going on. For example, you cannot have a greater than one ounce poor in your drink. If you would like more than an ounce, you need to order them individually as “side cars” and yes, you pay for that privilege. You also can’t have more than one drink in front of you at a time. So, let’s say you are enjoying said glass of Sancerre and your table decides to order a bottle of wine with dinner. You better down that first glass fast or else your waiter will not be pouring you from the bottle. You also have to join to frequent a bar: $4 for a 3 week “membership” lets you go to a bar. The list of rules go on and on, and it got me thinking….how is this still legal? What other state is there where religious thoughts and beliefs so deeply engrained in the laws? And yet, with all of these fuzzy lines and rules, there does exist one man in Utah where drinking is easy as pie. His name is Brett Clifford, and he is the state’s official wine taster. He is even on the government’s payroll! His job is to taste every wine, every vintage sold in Utah with the task of bringing the best wines to Utah. So, he’ll taste them all, and for the rest of the Utah citizens, well, good luck!