The Iowa City Police Department conducted alcohol sales law compliance checks on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 50 businesses licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. Working with plainclothes officers, underage persons entered these businesses and attempted to illegally purchase alcoholic beverages. Forty-two businesses refused to sell alcohol to the underage buyers.
Eight businesses checked by police sold to the underage buyers. The businesses that failed the compliance checks were:
- 2 Dogs Pub, 1705 S. First Ave., Suite Q
- Casey’s, 2410 Mormon Trek Blvd.
- Double Tap, 121 E. College St., Suite B
- El Ray’s Live & Dive, 211 Iowa Ave.
- Hudson’s South Side Tap, 782 Highway 1 W.
- Hy-Vee Fast and Fresh, 1103 N. Dodge St.
- Island Vybz RastaRant, 382 Highway 1 W.
- The Box, 525 S. Gilbert St.
The employees who sold the alcohol to the underage buyers were each charged with Providing Alcohol to a Person Under Legal Age - Employee, a simple misdemeanor punishable with a $645 fine plus court costs for the first offense. Additionally, all violations will be forwarded to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division for possible civil penalties against the liquor license.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.