Work toward solutions

As of today, Iowa City bars are closed after 10 p.m. to patrons under the legal drinking age.

For now, at least.

But the years-long debate over whether to ban underage patrons from bars in this college town is still not over.

Opponents have collected signatures to put the question to voters this fall: Should Iowa City allow let 19- and 20-year-olds in bars?

There's a good chance that their answer will be “yes.” And if it is, Iowa City could go right back to square one - head-butting about what, if anything, should be done about Iowa City's drinking problem.

That would be a waste.

So we challenge 21-only opponents to come to the table to work on solutions to this serious and complex issue.

We've heard plenty of times by now that they don't agree with experts and local leaders that limiting access to the bars will help.

But we haven't heard much about what they're willing to do instead to help curb dangerous drinking, even though many agree it's a problem in this destination party town.

It's time for them to come to the table and help.

There's good reason to be concerned about the risky drinking habits of underage drinkers in Iowa City. On average, University of Iowa students drink more, and drink more often, than their peers at other universities. More underage drinkers travel to Iowa City from other towns just to party.

Research suggests the 21-only ordinance will reduce underage drinking, so earlier this spring, Iowa City Council members voted 6-1 to bump the bar-entry age to 21.

It was a move widely supported by members of the UI and Iowa City communities.

But almost as soon as it passed, opponents vowed to force the issue to a vote.

In 2007, when voters last had a say in the issue, they voted 58 percent to 42 percent against boosting the bar-entry age.

Organizers against the current change say that's what will happen again this year.

They submitted more than 3,000 signatures last month to give voters another say.

They say they'll spend their summer knocking on doors to convince Iowa City residents to support their position and vote to repeal the ordinance change. They say they'll rally students next fall, registering and turning them out to vote.

That's their right.

But good changes might start to happen if they'd use at least some of that energy to help tackle the problem.

They could talk to to new students, organize late-night and alcohol free events, brainstorm approaches to the complex problem of alcohol abuse.

It's not enough to say that council doesn't get it.

If they are willing to work so tirelessly to defeat 21, they should put that drive to good use.