Women are safer with I.C.’s bar entry law

By Karla Miller

-----

We at the Rape Victim Advocacy Program believe that many steps must be taken from different fronts to address underage drinking and related negative consequences. RVAP cannot support or condone what research and experience tell us about the effects of underage drinking on individuals and society.

Restricting adolescents' access to alcohol is only one piece, but a very critical one. Holding offenders accountable, providing good alternatives to alcohol-centered activities and creating respectful and non-abusive environments are also necessary.

Iowa City's 21-only bar ordinance, while not a panacea, does make access to alcohol more difficult.

Inaccurate and biased information has been introduced in the public discussion of this issue. To be sure, women have always been sexually assaulted at both house parties and bars.

A new group, The Safety Committee, headed by two bar owners, uses the buzzword “Safety.” The agenda for this election is not primarily about safety. If it were, there would not be such opposition to a measure successful in reducing underage drinking and violence in other communities.

We agree with some bar owners who say they should not be the only ones working on the alcohol abuse and violence problems. However ...

Assertion: Bar employees check IDs and restrict sales to people underage. Young, busy and distracted bar staff may not be able to detect well-done fake identification. If IDs are always checked and alcohol is not consumed by minors, shouldn't there be fewer arrests for underage drinking?

Assertion: Underage people want to be in bars to socialize with their older friends. Allowing underage people in the bars under the guise of socializing (and ostensibly not there to drink alcohol) creates an environment enticing teenagers to obtain fake identification to fully socialize with their legally drinking friends.

Assertion: The downtown economy will tank if underage people aren't allowed in bars. Food and soft drinks in bars (versus restaurants) do not appear to be the cash cow.

Assertion: There will be an increase in underage age drinkers at house parties. Underage drinkers will drink wherever there is alcohol accessible.

Assertion: Women are safer in bars rather than house parties because they know everyone. Whether at house parties or in bars, 85 percent of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victims know and often trust.

Safety is not a location. It is what we do to make a place safer.

Karla S. Miller is executive director, Rape Victim Advocacy Program, Iowa City. Comments: Karla-Miller@uiowa.edu