Alcohol sales law compliance checks were conducted Thursday evening, November 12, at forty-four businesses licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. Working with plainclothes officers, underage youths entered these businesses and attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages. Thirty-seven businesses refused to sell to our underage buyers. The efforts of these responsible business people are commended. The following establishments passed:
• 808 Restaurant & Nightclub (121 Iowa Avenue);
• Airliner (22 S. Clinton Street);
• Blackstone (503 Westbury Drive);
• Bo-James (118 E. Washington Street);
• Carl & Ernie's Pub & Grub (161 Highway 1 West);
• Casey's General Store #2761 (204 N. Dubuque Street);
• Creekside Market (2601 Highway 6 East);
• DC's (124 S. Dubuque Street);
• Deli Mart #2 (1920 Lower Muscatine Road);
• Deli Mart #3 (2410 Mormon Trek Boulevard);
• Deli Mart #5 (206 E. Benton Street);
• [The] Field House (111 E. College Street);
• Firewater (347 S. Gilbert Street);
• Gasby's East (2303 Muscatine Avenue);
• Grizzly's Southside Pub (1208 Highland Court);
• Hy-Vee Drugstore (310 N. First Avenue);
• Hy-Vee Gas #1 (260 Stevens Drive);
• It's Brothers Bar & Grill (125 S. Dubuque Street);
• Joe's Place (115 Iowa Avenue);
• Kum & Go #422 (513 S. Riverside Drive);
• Liquor Downtown (315 S. Gilbert Street):
• Liquor House (425 S. Gilbert Street);
• Martini's (127 E. College Street);
• [The] Mill Restaurant (120 E. Burlington Street);
• Old Capitol Brew Works & Public House (525 S. Gilbert Street);
• Panchero's (32 S. Clinton Street);
• Piano Lounge (217 Iowa Avenue);
• [The] Picador (330 E. Washington Street);
• Pints (114 S. Clinton Street);
• Saloon (112 E. College Street);
• Sauce (108 E. College Street);
• Sports Column (121 S. Dubuque Street);
• [The] Summit (10 S. Clinton Street);
• T.C.B. (114 E. College Street);
• Union Bar (121 E. College Street);
• Vito's (118 E. College Street);
• Wal-Mart Store #1721 (1001 Highway 1 West).
Seven businesses checked by police failed to comply with the law and sold to underage buyers. The offending employees were charged and released for selling/providing an alcoholic beverage (beer) to an underage person, per Iowa Code 123.49(2h) - the scheduled fine (plus costs) is $735. Additionally, each violation will be forwarded to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division for civil penalty against the liquor license. The following establishments failed:
• Donnelly's Pub (110 E. College Street);
• Etc. (118 S. Dubuque Street);
• Hawkeye Hideaway (310 E. Prentiss Street);
• I.C. Pit Stop (300 Kirkwood Avenue);
• Kum & Go #52 (25 W. Burlington Street);
• North Dodge Express (2790 N. Dodge Street);
• Short's Burger & Shine (8 S. Clinton Street).
Underage drinking is a health and safety concern that contributes to crime, car crashes, injuries, and deaths. Additionally, alcohol often contributes to many of the more frequent minor crimes and nuisances that affect the quality of life in our community.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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