HomeMy WebLinkAboutA014 - Letter from Tom Northrup to Council dated May 5, 1989 - WlechA . ���-ve Stab n -� `O
"A Drinking Establishment" MAY
207 Welch / P.O. Box 1 131 ciTv cLEaK
Ames, Iowa 50010 CM of XR1Es,sown
May 5, 1989 Phone(515) 292-2334 (After 4 pm)
The Honorable F. Paul Goodland, Mayor-
and Members of the City Council
of the City of Ames, Iowa
Re: Allowing 19 & 20 year olds in bars
Dear- Mayor Goodland and Council Members,
We are writing to you to express our opinion in regards to the law
permitting 19 and 20 year old people to be permitted in bars in Ames.
The main objective of being in business is to continue to stay in
business and make a profit. We can not do either if we don't keep and
maintain a liquor license. That can only be done by obeying the laws
that are on books and conduct our business in a responsible fashion.
How can we responsibly obey a law that is nearly unenforceable?
1) Statements by your own Police Department indicate that the
proposed law is nearly unenforceable without intensive
undercover work,
2) It appears to be nearly unenforceable in the other
university cities from statements made by Mr. Ballantine,
3) From our experience in a college restaurant business
for nearly 10 years, it appears to be nearly unenforceable,
4) After talking to students that have frequented bars in Iowa
City that get around the law it appears to be nearly
unenforceable,
5) And from reading dozens of media articles in the Daily Tribune
and the Iowa State Daily it appears to be nearly unenforceable.
For these reasons we ask: Why are you passing this law? Why put a law
on the books that is nearly unenforceable? (We do understand that it
will be an _option for each bar to decide if they choose to let 19 and
20 year olds into their bar. )
As of this date, we have not heard of any method, that works, that is
able to distinguish 19 & 20 year olds from legal age drinkers. Because
of this, we will not allow 19 & 20 year olds into our bar until a
method of supervision, that works, is available. We are more
interested in protecting our business by reducing out- liability and
acting in a responsible manner. Our regular clientele that we have
built up over, the years would also like to see us stay in business.
On the other hand, we do support the drinking age to be lowered back to
19 years of age, even though it would not affect our business as much
as other bars. Ever since we had opened Welch Ave. Station just over 4
1/2 years ago, over 75% of our business has always been 21 year olds or
elder. The drinking age having been raised to 21 years did little to
affect out- business. Today, many 19 & 20 year olds are drinking
illegally without supervision, whether at small private parties, in the
streets or in cars driving around town. It makes more sense to have
these younger people in a "supervised" environment. It is safer for-
all parties involved, as well as being easier to enforce the laws.
Since ly,
Tom Northrop, Pre dent / (J�m a n, Vice-President
Norman Investment Corp. DBF Welch Ave. Station.
/tcr,
cc: Dennis Ballantine
John R. Klaus