Four downtown Iowa City bars fail alcohol compliance checks

IOWA CITY - Four downtown bars face possible civil penalties after their employees sold alcohol to underage buyers cooperating with an alcohol compliance check.

According to an Iowa City Police Department news release, officers worked with minors on Thursday to conduct compliance checks on 36 businesses in Iowa City licensed to sell alcohol. The minors attempted to purchase alcohol illegally and 32 businesses turned them away, police said.

The businesses which sold to the minors were:

- The Airliner, 22 S. Clinton St.

- The Sports Column, 12 S. Dubuque St.

- Studio 13, 13 S. Linn St.

- Gabe's, 330 E. Washington St.

The employees who sold the alcohol were cited for selling to persons under age 21, a simple misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine. The violations are also sent to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division for possible civil penalties against the liquor license, police said.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com