Police: Compliance Improved, 25 out of 31 Iowa City Businesses Refused to Sell Alcohol to Minors During Latest Check

Media Release

Alcohol sales law compliance checks were conducted Thursday evening, March 14, 2013, at thirty one businesses licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. Working with plainclothes officers, underage persons entered these businesses and attempted to illegally purchase alcoholic beverages. Twenty five businesses refused to sell to the underage buyers. The businesses that passed the compliance checks were:

• XIO (Rice Village) - 223 E Washington St.
• Jimmy Jacks Rib Shack - 1940 Lower Muscatine Rd.
• Formosa - 221 E College St.
• Taqueria Acapulco - 1937 Keokuk St.
• Trumpet Blossom Cafe - 310 E Prentiss St.
• Graze - 115 E College St.
• Givannis - 109 E College St.
• Cactus Mexican Grill & Cantina - 245 S Gilbert St.
• Szechuan House - 320 E Burlington St.
• Moonrakers - 126 E Washington St.
• Motley Cow - 160 N Linn St.
• Takanami - 219 Iowa Ave.
• Club Car - 122 Wright St.
• The Job Site - 928 Maiden Ln.
• Grizzly's - 1210 Highland Ct.
• Old Capital Brew Works - 525 S Gilbert St.
• Players - 347 S Gilbert St.
• Gabes - 330 E Washington St.
• Donnelly's Pub - 110 E College St.
• It's Brothers Bar & Grill - 125 S Dubuque St.
• Union Bar - 121 E College St.
• Martinis - 127 E College St.
• TCB - 114 E College St.
• The Mill - 120 E Burlington ST.
• Share - 210 S Dubuque St.


Six 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:

• Times Club at Prairie Lights - 15 S Dubuque St.
• Quinton's Bar & Grill - 215 E Washington St.
• Bread Garden Market - 225 S Linn St.
• Thai Flavors - 340 E Burlington St.
• Noodles & Company - 201 S Clinton St.
• ZMariks- 19 S Dubuque 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.