Iowa City bars appeal state penalties

Two Iowa City bars are appealing an administrative law judge's ruling regarding serving alcohol to minors.

In January, The Union Bar was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $500 to the state's Alcoholic Beverages Division after a judge ruled that "Jell-O shots" constitute an alcoholic beverage.

Owners of The Union Bar had argued that their Jell-O shots served on Jan. 21, 2009 to an underage patron did not contain enough alcohol to qualify as alcoholic drinks. But Administrative Law Judge Laura Lockard rejected the bar's claim.

Leah Cohen, the Owner of Bo James, is also appealing a ruling that would suspend the bar's liquor license for 30 days.

The suspension stems from a ruling last month from a Jan. 30 alcohol compliance check that found two 20-year-olds got into the bar and bought beers without having their ages checked. Cohen said those assisting with the compliance check were deceptive and sneaked around the bar's doorman - the only person verifying ID's at Bo James, since the bar only admits patrons over 21 after 7 p.m.

Bo James was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,500.

A judge has until April 12 to review the appeals on both cases.