Six Iowa City Businesses Fail Alcohol Compliance Checks

Media Release

Alcohol sales law compliance checks were conducted Friday evening, November 16th, at 47 businesses licensed to sellalcoholic beverages. Working with plainclothes officers, underage persons entered these businesses and attempted to illegally purchase alcoholic beverages. 41 businesses refused to sell to the underage buyers. The businesses that passed thecompliance checks were:

• Caliente Night Club - 171 Hwy 1W
• Carl & Ernie's Good Time Pub & Grub - 161 Hwy 1W
• Gasby's - 2303 Muscatine Ave
• Shakespeare's - 819 S 1st Ave
• Deli Mart - 2410 Mormon Trek Blvd
• Coach's Corner Sports Pub - 749 Mormon Trek Blvd
• Hy-Vee - 812 1st Ave.
• Suburban BP - 370 Scott Ct.
• Deli Mart - 525 Hwy 1W
• Blackstone - 503 Westbury Dr.
• Gasby's -1310 S Gilbert St.
• Suburban BP - 1905 Keokuk St.
• Two Dogs Pub - 1705 1st Ave.
• Deli Mart - 590 1st Ave.
• Deli Mart - 206 E Benton St.
• The Liquor House - 525 S Gilbert St.
• Dave's Fox Head - 402 E Market St.
• Sam's Pizza - 441 S Gilbert St.
• Liquor Downtown - 315 S Gilbert St.
• Kum & Go - 323 E Burlington St.
• IC Ugly's - 210 N Linn St.
• Pints - 118 S Clinton St.
• Brother's Bar & Grill - 125 S Dubuque St.
• DC's - 124 S Dubuque St.
• Martinis - 127 E College St.
• Moonrakers - 126 E Washington St.
• Bo James - 118 E Washington St.
• Iron Hawk - 122 E Washington St.
• Studio 13 - 13 S Linn St.
• Yacht Club - 13 S Linn St.
• Blue Moose Tap House - 211 Iowa Ave.
• Deadwood Tavern - 6 S Dubuque St.
• Sports Column - 12 S Dubuque St.
• Dublin Underground - 5 S Dubuque St.
• Mickey's Irish Pub - 11 S Dubuque St.
• Basta - 121 Iowa Ave.
• Joe's Place - 115 Iowa Ave.
• Short's Burger and Shine - 18 S Clinton St.
• Clinton Street Social Club - 18 ½ S Clinton St.
• The Airliner - 22 S Clinton St.
• The Summit - 10 S Clinton St.


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

• Pancheros Mexican Grill - 965 S Riverside Dr.
• Hilltop Tavern - 1100 N Dodge St.
• George's Buffet - 312 E Market St.
• Mondo's Saloon - 112 E College St.
• TCB - 114 E College St.
• Union Bar - 121 E College 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 withalcohol; 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.