Iowa City sends 21-only law to voters

IOWA CITY – One day after the University of Iowa was named the nation's top party school, the City Council officially sent Iowa City's bar-entry age law to voters.

The council voted 7-0 to direct the Johnson County auditor to place on the Nov. 5 ballot a referendum to repeal the city's 21-only law, which prohibits people younger than 21 from being in bars after 10 p.m.

While council members expressed support for the law – and passed a resolution Tuesday night saying so – a successful petition filed with the city in June required them to either repeal it or send it to a public vote.

The law went into effect three years ago and withstood a referendum in fall 2010. Backers say it has helped reduce problem drinking and improved the atmosphere downtown, where many bars popular with college students are located.

"The 21 (law) has really diminished our status as a destination for underage people to come and drink," council member Susan Mims said.

The petition seeking a repeal was started by a bar owner and manager who said 19- and 20-year-olds want a chance to be in bars at night. George Wittgraf, owner of the Union Bar, also has said a repeal would benefit his business financially.

On Monday, the UI made national headlines by being named the nation's top party school by The Princeton Review.

Council member Jim Throgmorton called that bad news.

"It's bad for the university, it's bad for the city, so it's not irrelevant that we're making this vote tonight," he said.