HomeMy WebLinkAboutA003 - Letter dated December1, 1989 from Fox I Louge, Kathy Kempen December 1, 1989
Dear Council Members:
I am writing to express my concern over the "over and under"
policy currently in practice in the City of Ames allowing
19 and 20 year old minors to be on the premises of liquor
establishments under certain sets of circumstances.
As a bar owner, I make every effort to be sure we do not
allow underage persons in our establishment, as do most of
the other bars in our town. This has always been a cause
for concern for all of us since we all have a very large
investment in our businesses and even a three day suspension
would create quite a hardship for most of us,
Every weekend, I read in the paper or hear on the radio a
fairly lengthy roster of violations for on premise under
legal Ige. In my opinion the "over and under" policy
enacte by the Ames City Council is in part responsible
for this. By allowing 19 and 20 year olds to legally be
on the premises in certain bars and lounges, you have
simply given them reason to think it is legal in all the
other liquor establishments. I hear arguments from minors
when I inform them that they cannot be on our premises even
if they are not drinking alcohol . These minors believe it
is their legal right to be there. I think we have the City
Council to thank for their confusion.
Although I may not agree with the legal drinking age of 21,
it is our law and therefore should be upheld. If the Council
continues to allow underage persons to participate in activities
at some of the local bars , I foresee my job as becoming more
and more difficult to keep them out of my establishment, I
urge you to consider the wide-spread effect of this policy on
the entire retail liquor trade in this city.
Sincerely,
Kathy Kempen, Proprietor
Fox I Lounge, Ames