Three Iowa City Businesses Caught in Latest Alcohol Compliance Check by Police

Media Release

Alcohol sales law compliance checks were conducted Saturday evening, May 10, 2013, at forty businesses licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. Working with plainclothes officers, underage persons entered these businesses and attempted to illegally purchase alcoholic beverages. Thirty seven businesses refused to sell to the underage buyers. The businesses that passed the compliance checks were:

• Blue Bird Diner - 330 E Market St.
• Leaf Kitchen - 301 ½ Kirkwood Ave.
• TCB - 114 E College St.
• DC's - 124 S Dubuque St.
• Fieldhouse Bar - 118 S Dubuque St.
• Bo James - 118 E Washington St.
• Iron Hawk - 122 E Washington St.
• One Twenty Six - 126 E Washington St.
• Mickey's Irish Pub - 11 S Dubuque St.
• Times Club at Prairie Lights - 15 S Dubuque St.
• Dublin Underground - 5 S Dubuque St.
• Atlas World Grill - 127 Iowa Ave.
• Basta - 121 Iowa Ave.
• Deadwood Tavern - 6 S Dubuque St.
• Takanami - 219 Iowa Ave.
• Blue Moose Tap House - 211 Iowa Ave.
• Trumpet Blossom Cafe - 310 E Prentiss St.
• Casey's - 204 N Dubuque St.
• Brix Cheese Shop & Wine Bar - 209 N Linn St.
• Wig & Pen - 1220 Hwy 6 W
• Hawkeye Convenience Store - 2875 Commerce Dr.
• Fareway - 2765 Commerce Dr.
• Coach's Corner Sports Pub - 749 Mormon Trek Blvd.
• Sushi Popo - 725 Mormon Trek Blvd.
• Fareway - 2530 Westwinds Dr.
• Kum & Go - 955 Mormon Trek Blvd.
• Deli Mart - 2410 Mormon Trek Blvd.
• Deli Mart - 525 Hwy 1 W
• Pancheros - 965 S Riverside Dr.
• Tobacco Outlet - 923 S Riverside Dr.
• Southside Liquor and Tobacco - 601 Hollywood Blvd.
• Zmariks Noodle Cafe - 19 S Dubuque St.
• Sports Column - 12 S Dubuque St.
• Union Bar - 121 E College St.
• Pancheros - 32 S Clinton St.
• Airliner - 22 S Clinton St.
• Summit Bar - 10 S Clinton St.


Three 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 business that failed the compliance checks was:

• The Pit Smokehouse - 130 N Dubuque St.
• Creekside Market - 2601 Hwy 6 E
• Smokin' Joes - 1901 Broadway 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.