Nine Iowa City businesses fail alcohol checks

[cigaretteman]

Nine Iowa City businesses failed an alcohol compliance check by the Iowa City Police Department over the weekend.


The police department conducted the alcohol sales law compliance checks at 33 businesses Saturday. Underage individuals, working with plainclothes officers, entered the business and attempted to buy alcohol beverages illegally.


Police said in a news release 24 business refused to sell alcohol to the underage individuals. The nine businesses that failed the checks were:

• Kirkwood Liquor & Tobacco, 300 Kirkwood Ave.
• Casey’s, 1904 Broadway St.
• Hawkeye Convenience, 2875 Commerce Dr.
• Urban Fuel Express, 2580 Moss Ridge Rd.
• Shakespeare’s, 819 First Ave.
• Creekside Market, 2601 Highway 6 East
• El Ray’s Live & Dive, 211 E. Iowa Ave.
• DC’s Bar, 124 S. Dubuque St.
• TCB, 114 E. College St.

The employees who sold alcohol to the underage buyers were charged with selling alcohol to persons underage, a simple misdemeanor punishable with a $645 fine for the first offense.


Violations will be forwarded to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division for possible civil penalties against the liquor license, Iowa City police said in a news release.

9 Iowa City businesses fail alcohol checks

Iowa City police conducted alcohol sales law compliance checks at 33 businesses on Saturday. Nine businesses failed the check.

www.thegazette.com

 

[ping72]

The grocery store I worked at in high school failed a cigarette one of these. They of course targeted the barely 18 year old special ed HS student cashier.

And the underage person they brought in to buy was a 17 year old that looked like he was fifty-something. Huge beard, balding, it was insane.

 

[B1GDeal]

My cousin actually had this happen in one of these stings. Dude who bought had facial hair and looked old. He went to court thinking he was going to lose, but wanted to see it through to complain about being set up and the judge agreed and tossed the ticket. But, that was like 20 something years ago.

 

[Pinehawk]

Hitting these minimum wage workers with a $645 fine for this is excessive.

 

[Hawki97]

Nine Iowa City businesses failed an alcohol compliance check by the Iowa City Police Department over the weekend.


The police department conducted the alcohol sales law compliance checks at 33 businesses Saturday. Underage individuals, working with plainclothes officers, entered the business and attempted to buy alcohol beverages illegally.


Police said in a news release 24 business refused to sell alcohol to the underage individuals. The nine businesses that failed the checks were:

• Kirkwood Liquor & Tobacco, 300 Kirkwood Ave.
• Casey’s, 1904 Broadway St.
• Hawkeye Convenience, 2875 Commerce Dr.
• Urban Fuel Express, 2580 Moss Ridge Rd.
• Shakespeare’s, 819 First Ave.
• Creekside Market, 2601 Highway 6 East
• El Ray’s Live & Dive, 211 E. Iowa Ave.
• DC’s Bar, 124 S. Dubuque St.
• TCB, 114 E. College St.

The employees who sold alcohol to the underage buyers were charged with selling alcohol to persons underage, a simple misdemeanor punishable with a $645 fine for the first offense.


Violations will be forwarded to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division for possible civil penalties against the liquor license, Iowa City police said in a news release.

9 Iowa City businesses fail alcohol checks

Iowa City police conducted alcohol sales law compliance checks at 33 businesses on Saturday. Nine businesses failed the check.

www.thegazette.com

Makes $12/hour…is the target of a sting to nail them with a $700 ticket with court costs. Protect and serve. Nicely done ICPD. Now, about those shootings…

 

[LesClaypool]

Tallahassee International Airport cards everyone, regardless of age. It’s always fun to see the 80-year old lady ordering the Tom Collins, get asked for ID. She’s always beyond befuddled.

 

[cigaretteman]

Tallahassee International Airport cards everyone, regardless of age. It’s always fun to see the 80-year old lady ordering the Tom Collins, get asked for ID. She’s always beyond befuddled.

All the Hy-Vees in the Iowa City area card everyone as well, no matter how old they look. One of their stores got caught in one of these stings and they had to close their adult beverage section for a month.

 

[seminole97]

In high school we'd sit for a few minutes in the parking lot of a convenience store. In no time at all a Good Samaritan would appear and often for no tip at all assist in our moral turpitude.

Other times we'd use Neal. Neal was 6'6" and a world class bullshitter. He'd plunk a case on the counter, they'd aske for ID and he'd say, "Pfft, whaddya mean," and 9 times out of 10 walk out with his purchase.

 

[win4jj]

In high school we'd sit for a few minutes in the parking lot of a convenience store. In no time at all a Good Samaritan would appear and often for no tip at all assist in our moral turpitude.

Other times we'd use Neal. Neal was 6'6" and a world class bullshitter. He'd plunk a case on the counter, they'd aske for ID and he'd say, "Pfft, whaddya mean," and 9 times out of 10 walk out with his purchase.

We had your version of Neal. His name was Scott. He was 6’3’’, had skipped a shave for a few days, and wore coveralls covered in hog shit. Worked every time.

 

[GES4]

I see that Iowa City Police continue to focus on the important stuff. Been the same since forever.

 

[NDallasRuss]

Tallahassee International Airport cards everyone, regardless of age. It’s always fun to see the 80-year old lady ordering the Tom Collins, get asked for ID. She’s always beyond befuddled.

Seems like that'd be the easiest fix: Card EVERYONE. 18 or 80, blind, crippled or crazy....

 

[GOHOX69]

I remember the old days at People's Drug in Coralville. Best name for a store by the way. My friend worked there as the cashier. Within 15 minutes we could raid out the entire liquor section. ID's schmid's.

And yes it's cute when HyVee id's an old fart like me.

 

[GES4]

I remember the old days at People's Drug in Coralville. Best name for a store by the way. My friend worked there as the cashier. Within 15 minutes we could raid out the entire liquor section. ID's schmid's.

And yes it's cute when HyVee id's an old fart like me.

The old days of the Dirty Johns dirt basement which appeared to comprise some sort of statewide drinking law amnesty. The underaged drinking equivalent of casinos on international waters.

 

[Pinehawk]

Hitting these minimum wage workers with a $645 fine for this is excessive.

A convenience store clerk making $12/hour would need to work 54 hours to pay off this fine.
Which is probably about as much as their monthly apartment rent.
And, you probably just got them fired, and made it harder for them to get a job with the misdemeanor on their record.
So...nice job Iowa City Police Department...

 

[comp_sci_hawk]

I see that Iowa City Police continue to focus on the important stuff. Been the same since forever.

Couldn't agree more, there have been several shootings recently, a few in the ped mall, one the other night in old capital parking ramp but hey, lets crack down on underage drinking. Go do your effing jobs and keep the public safe.

 

[hydro2.0]

These narcs need beat up

 

[Derekd3408]

A convenience store clerk making $12/hour would need to work 54 hours to pay off this fine.
Which is probably about as much as their monthly apartment rent.
And, you probably just got them fired, and made it harder for them to get a job with the misdemeanor on their record.
So...nice job Iowa City Police Department...

Or the cashier could do their job and ID people. It's always someone else's fault. I don't agree with a $650 fine to people making $12-$15 dollars and hour, but the employer could lose a lot of money as a result of their actions. Getting fired happens when you don't do your job and put the company at risk. Should we just have it be open season on underage people buying alcohol?

 

[Hawki97]

Or the cashier could do their job and ID people. It's always someone else's fault. I don't agree with a $650 fine to people making $12-$15 dollars and hour, but the employer could lose a lot of money as a result of their actions. Getting fired happens when you don't do your job and put the company at risk. Should we just have it be open season on underage people buying alcohol?

This is the problem. Unless the policing methods have changed - they issue no warnings, there is no attempt at individual education with the $12/hr employee, etc. It's just slap 'em with $650 and a simple misdemeanor. These people just don't have the means. I don't have as much sympathy for the people in a downtown bar (although I bartended at one of the big meat markets in the 90's in IC and it gets really hard to stay on top of things from 10pm-1am), but the gas station, grocery store, and smoke shop ones are bullshit. IMHO, every employee should get one warning. The establishment should take the hit for every one of them because it's their job to educate and train accordingly.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

Shouldn't the people in the sting also be charged with minor in possession?

As my 4 year old niece used to say: Fair is fair.

 

[beanerhawk]

 

[Derekd3408]

This is the problem. Unless the policing methods have changed - they issue no warnings, there is no attempt at individual education with the $12/hr employee, etc. It's just slap 'em with $650 and a simple misdemeanor. These people just don't have the means. I don't have as much sympathy for the people in a downtown bar (although I bartended at one of the big meat markets in the 90's in IC and it gets really hard to stay on top of things from 10pm-1am), but the gas station, grocery store, and smoke shop ones are bullshit. IMHO, every employee should get one warning. The establishment should take the hit for every one of them because it's their job to educate and train accordingly.

I agree with you on almost everything, but Casey's is very strict with their ID policy, so that employee fudged up. And we have no idea what training/policies the others have in place so it's hard to blame the establishment.

 

[bdg8]

Or the cashier could do their job and ID people. It's always someone else's fault. I don't agree with a $650 fine to people making $12-$15 dollars and hour, but the employer could lose a lot of money as a result of their actions. Getting fired happens when you don't do your job and put the company at risk. Should we just have it be open season on underage people buying alcohol?

This. It’s really not a hard concept to ID. Do your job and you don’t get fined. Pretty simple concept

 

[Fijimn]

In high school we'd sit for a few minutes in the parking lot of a convenience store. In no time at all a Good Samaritan would appear and often for no tip at all assist in our moral turpitude.

Other times we'd use Neal. Neal was 6'6" and a world class bullshitter. He'd plunk a case on the counter, they'd aske for ID and he'd say, "Pfft, whaddya mean," and 9 times out of 10 walk out with his purchase.

We called it playing "Hey, Mister..."

 

[Pinehawk]

Or the cashier could do their job and ID people. It's always someone else's fault. I don't agree with a $650 fine to people making $12-$15 dollars and hour, but the employer could lose a lot of money as a result of their actions. Getting fired happens when you don't do your job and put the company at risk. Should we just have it be open season on underage people buying alcohol?

It's a sting operation. It's lazy police work that isn't targeting a known problem, but rather looking/hoping to set a trap for someone. And, I suspect it does not deter this type of 'crime'. These people will get fined and fired, and these businesses will bring in new entry level workers that will make the same mistakes.

 

[Derekd3408]

It's a sting operation. It's lazy police work that isn't targeting a known problem, but rather looking/hoping to set a trap for someone. And, I suspect it does not deter this type of 'crime'. These people will get fined and fired, and these businesses will bring in new entry level workers that will make the same mistakes.

I forgot that many of the posters here aren't big on accountability. Those stings are in place to keep the business and their employees in check. If they didn't exist, nothing would stop employees from selling alcohol to minors. I don't agree with fining the employee for a first offense, but if they lose their job it's on them. Not hard to ask for an ID.

 

[Pinehawk]

I forgot that many of the posters here aren't big on accountability. Those stings are in place to keep the business and their employees in check. If they didn't exist, nothing would stop employees from selling alcohol to minors. I don't agree with fining the employee for a first offense, but if they lose their job it's on them. Not hard to ask for an ID.

If this system of theirs was working, they wouldn't have 9 of the 33 businesses they checked fail (27%).
Perhaps they should reconsider if this is the correct approach if it isn't showing any improvement.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

All the Hy-Vees in the Iowa City area card everyone as well, no matter how old they look. One of their stores got caught in one of these stings and they had to close their adult beverage section for a month.

The Collins Rd Hy Vee has been carding everyone for years. I'm 66, and I get carded every time. I've never been carded at other Hy Vee's in the area.

Hmmmmm, I wonder if that's why they have to close that store? 🤔

 

[NDallasRuss]

This is the problem. Unless the policing methods have changed - they issue no warnings, there is no attempt at individual education with the $12/hr employee, etc. It's just slap 'em with $650 and a simple misdemeanor.

Isn't the law, with the associated punishment, kind of the warning?

For most offenses there isn't a warning, or attempted education. There's a law, and you're supposed to follow it, or else you risk getting caught, and getting assessed the associated penalty.

I do think that citing the employee individually, when they're acting as an agent of the company is wrong. The company should get the citation, and if they want to discipline the employee, that's up to their policies/practices. But that's not how the law is written, so it's a different issue.

 

[NoleATL]

Tallahassee International Airport cards everyone, regardless of age. It’s always fun to see the 80-year old lady ordering the Tom Collins, get asked for ID. She’s always beyond befuddled.

This sheet happens around Atlanta, too.

 

[HawkeyeShawn]

This happened to me in the early 90’s. Was working at a liquor store in Blair, NE. Guy walks in, full beard and puts a six pack on the counter. I ID’d him. License looked legit, dates added up. Sold the beer. About a minute later in walk the cops. Apparently there is a NE law at the time that had I entered his DL into the log, and had him sign, I could have fought the ticket. Instead I got ticketed for selling to a minor and hit with a $300 fine. I swear to this day the ID that kid produced said he was 21.

 

[lucas80]

If the ICPD is so excited about sting operations why haven’t they hit the “massage parlor”,
on 1st Avenue? You’ve got actual victims working there.

 

[Hawki97]

Isn't the law, with the associated punishment, kind of the warning?

For most offenses there isn't a warning, or attempted education. There's a law, and you're supposed to follow it, or else you risk getting caught, and getting assessed the associated penalty.

I do think that citing the employee individually, when they're acting as an agent of the company is wrong. The company should get the citation, and if they want to discipline the employee, that's up to their policies/practices. But that's not how the law is written, so it's a different issue.

I have the luxury of looking at this from both sides. Back when I was a youngster, this would have crippled me. Now that $1K is relatively nothing, I also can pretend like it’s no big deal. When looking at this now, I choose to put myself back in the day when it would have hurt, and also know that my employer didn’t give two phucks about me. So therefore, I’m on the side of the poor bastard making next to nothing. It’s all relative. I get if people don’t understand. It would have been great to have wealthy parents that made things go away.

 

[Hawki97]

If the ICPD is so excited about sting operations why haven’t they hit the “massage parlor”,
on 1st Avenue? You’ve got actual victims working there.

Lol! Yes. And on Highland Ct. And on Benton St across from Jimmy Johns.

Oh, but nevermind…kids underage drinking!!!!!

Derp. ICPD’s priorities are idiotic.

 

[Moral]

Seems like a waste of resources.

 

[Hawki97]

Seems like a waste of resources.

 

[Hawkman98]

Makes $12/hour…is the target of a sting to nail them with a $700 ticket with court costs. Protect and serve. Nicely done ICPD. Now, about those shootings…

FFS...That didn't take long to pull out this standard one liner. You do realize that ICPD does not set the ticket cost right? You do realize that the Iowa Alcoholic beverage Division requires these right? You do realize enforcing the laws, no matter how big or small is the duty they swore to uphold right? You realize the stores and employees are trained not to sell without identifying ages right? You do realize that the detectives are still working those shootings right? They don't pull detectives working cases to do normal compliance checks. Blame those violating the law not enforcing them. I'm sure if god forbid your child was able to buy alcohol and drove or drank too much and passed away, you still would be supporting the clerk. Carry on.

 

[Hawk and Awe]

Target once made my wife (no pic) who was with me buying alcohol show her ID. The lady made her go to the car and get it.

I don’t think I have ever thrown a bigger fit in a public setting (it’s pretty rare for me to blame the help and I was stuck inside waiting for wife). She was unable to explain what they do with parents who happen to be with their underage kids. First time I ever almost sent a letter… I seriously wanted to understand if that was the policy and if they realized how ridiculous it was

 

[artradley]

Or the cashier could do their job and ID people. It's always someone else's fault. I don't agree with a $650 fine to people making $12-$15 dollars and hour, but the employer could lose a lot of money as a result of their actions. Getting fired happens when you don't do your job and put the company at risk. Should we just have it be open season on underage people buying alcohol?

I’m not sure minimum wage people should have to enforce our laws, under penalty of major fines, by trying to discern the age of everyone in their place of employ. I am amazed more businesses haven’t simply gone with the “card everyone” strategy, with a prominent sign explaining the policy. It relieves the pressure of low wage, usually young, employees risking confrontation over their judgment of a customer’s age.

 

[Billy Sharples]

FFS...That didn't take long to pull out this standard one liner. You do realize that ICPD does not set the ticket cost right? You do realize that the Iowa Alcoholic beverage Division requires these right? You do realize enforcing the laws, no matter how big or small is the duty they swore to uphold right? You realize the stores and employees are trained not to sell without identifying ages right? You do realize that the detectives are still working those shootings right? They don't pull detectives working cases to do normal compliance checks. Blame those violating the law not enforcing them. I'm sure if god forbid your child was able to buy alcohol and drove or drank too much and passed away, you still would be supporting the clerk. Carry on.

Fuq off pig

 

[LesClaypool]

FFS...That didn't take long to pull out this standard one liner. You do realize that ICPD does not set the ticket cost right? You do realize that the Iowa Alcoholic beverage Division requires these right? You do realize enforcing the laws, no matter how big or small is the duty they swore to uphold right? You realize the stores and employees are trained not to sell without identifying ages right? You do realize that the detectives are still working those shootings right? They don't pull detectives working cases to do normal compliance checks. Blame those violating the law not enforcing them. I'm sure if god forbid your child was able to buy alcohol and drove or drank too much and passed away, you still would be supporting the clerk. Carry on.

😂