Iowa City Police: 13 Out of 36 Businesses Sold Alcohol to Minors During Compliance Check

Media Release

Alcohol sales law compliance checks were conducted Saturday evening, March 2, 2013, at thirty six businesses licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. Working with plainclothes officers, underage persons entered these businesses and attempted to illegally purchase alcoholic beverages. Twenty three businesses refused to sell to the underage buyers. The businesses that passed the compliance checks were:

• Pancheros - 965 S Riverside Dr.
• Baroncini Ristorante - 104 S Linn St.
• Buffalo Wild Wings - 201 S Clinton St.
• Chipolte Grill - 201 S Clinton St.
• Orchard Green Restaurant - 521 S Gilbert St.
• American Legion Post 17 - 3016 Muscatine Ave.
• Pizza Hut - 1926 Keokuk St.
• The Sanctuary Restaurant & Pub - 405 S Gilbert St.
• Dave's Fox Head - 402 E Market St.
• Short's Burger and Shine - 521 Westbury Dr.
• Okoboji Bar & Grill - 1857 Lower Muscatine Rd.
• Korean Barbeque - 624 S Gilbert St.
• Mekong Asian Cuisine - 5 Sturgis Corner Dr.
• Carlos O'Kelly's - 1411 Waterfront Dr.
• El Ranchero - 21 Sturgis Corner Dr.
• Linn St. Café - 121 N Linn St.
• Wig & Pen - 363 N 1st Ave
• Brown Bottle - 115 E Washington St.
• Bob's Your Uncle - 2208 N Dodge St.
• India Café - 227 E Washington St.
• The Pit - 130 N Dubuque St.
• Pagliai's Pizza - 302 E Bloomington St.
• Blue Bird Diner - 330 E Market St.


Thirteen businesses checked by police sold to the underage buyers. The employees who sold were each charged with Selling Alcohol to Persons Under Age 21. The businesses that failed the compliance checks were:

• Pancheros Mexican Grill - 32 S Clinton St.
• Chili Yummy Yummy Chili - 100 S Linn St.
• The Vine Tavern - 330 E Prentiss St.
• Sam's Pizza - 441 S Gilbert St.
• Thai Spice - 1210 S Gilbert St.
• El Dorado - 1634 Sycamore St.
• Los Portales - 1402 S Gilbert St.
• El Cactus - 1921 Keokuk St.
• Godfather's Pizza - 531 Hwy 1 W
• El Banditos - 327 E Market St.
• Sushi Popo - 725 Mormon Trek Blvd.
• Joseph's Steakhouse - 212 S Clinton St.
• Devotay - 117 N Linn St.

Selling (employee) alcohol to persons under age 21 years of age is a simple misdemeanor, punishable with a $500 fine for the first offense. Additionally, all violations will be forwarded to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division for civil penalties against the liquor licenses.

Current research shows that effective and regular compliance checks helps decrease alcohol sales to minors; helps reduce underage drinking which in turn reduces alcohol related traffic crashes, violence, and other health problems associated with alcohol; and helps build healthier and safer communities. Some of the Compliance Checks are being funded through the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG) by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). The goals of the grant are to prevent the onset and reduce the progression of substance abuse, including childhood and underage drinking; reduce substance abuse-related problems in communities, and build prevention capacity and infrastructure at the state/tribal and community level.