Reasons to limit bar entry to age 21

Do I want Iowa City to be the destination spot for underage drinking? No.

Do I want the University of Iowa to be known as one of the top party schools? No.

Would I be upset if some of the bars in downtown Iowa City went out of business? No.

These are three of the reasons I am voting no on whether the 21-only ordinance should be repealed in Iowa City.

Two other points were made at a recent Johnson County Task Force on Aging-sponsored forum on this issue.

An advocate for a yes vote talked about the role of parents, and it triggered this thought. There are many times our youths want to do things, and we, as parents, need to say no. This is a time when we, as a community, need to say no.

The second point that resonated with me was the argument that kids are going to drink. So is it best for them to drink downtown in a somewhat controlled environment rather than at house parties?

Doug Beardsley, director of Johnson County Public Health, stated he did not accept that line of thinking. Instead, we need to change the culture. Just as we have made great strides toward reducing smoking, we can do the same with drinking. He said a no vote is a step toward changing the culture, and I agree.

A no vote makes sense to me. I hope it makes sense to you.

Bob Welsh

Iowa City