Iowa City bar’s liquor license in doubt

Another downtown Iowa City bar is in trouble with the city over underage drinkers, but it's unlikely to affect the establishment much in the short term.

Police Chief Sam Hargadine is recommending that the City Council deny the liquor license renewal application for the Sports Column, 12 S. Dubuque St.

The council will take up the matter June 1. If the license is denied, the bar can appeal to the state and continue selling alcohol until a final decision is made.

A council policy requires the police department to recommend the denial of a license for any establishment with underage patrons cited for possessing alcohol at a rate greater than 1.0 per officer visit. Those underage tickets, which are given to the individual and not the business, are commonly referred to as a PAULA.

The Sports Column had a 12-month PAULA rate of 1.4. In a memo to the council, Hargadine called that “unacceptable” given the publicity given to other denials for the same issue.

Sports Column co-owner William Bryce did not immediately return a message left on his cell phone seeking comment.

Three other Iowa City bars have been denied liquor licenses by the council since the policy started last year, and those owners appealed the decisions to the state's Alcoholic Beverages Division.

In December, an administrator law judge ruled against the city, saying the policy pre-empted state law.

The city in turn appealed that decision to the administrator of the Alcoholic Beverages Division. After it was announced earlier this year that a new administrator was to be appointed, the decision was put on hold.

Stephen Larson took over the post May 1. He said he expects to make a decision on the city's appeal in two to three weeks.

Starting June 1, people younger than 21 will not be allowed in Iowa City bars after 10 p.m.