A state official has sided with Iowa City bar owners in a battle over denying liquor licenses based on high PAULA-per-police visits.
Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division Administrator Stephen Larson ruled that the city’s PAULA ratio ordinance is inconsistent with the state’s requirements of liquor licensees. Larson’s decision affirms an earlier ruling by Administrative Law Judge Margaret LaMarche, who overturned the Iowa City City Council’s liquor-license denial to 3rd Base, 113 E. College St., and Et Cetera, which has since closed. Councilors have denied other bars, including the Summit and Sports Column, under the ordinance, which requires denial for a ratio of PAULAs-per-visit higher than 1.0.
In his order, Larson writes that city officials did not prove employees at 3rd Base, often called the Fieldhouse, knew underage consumption was occurring or that they “failed to exercise reasonable care to ascertain a patron consuming alcoholic beverages was of leave age.” He noted no information was presented about the “circumstances surrounding” the 143 PAULAs issued at 3rd Base in 12 months.
“Thus, it is unknown whether the patrons cited were merely holding or actually consuming alcohol in the presence of the Licensee or employees,” Larson wrote. He also found that the city did not have a clear definition of a police “visit.”
Check Wednesday’s Daily Iowan for more on Larson’s order.
