Attack on underage drinking continues
FD council moves on alcohol lawsBy BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
Article PDFs
Fort Dodge City Council vote tally
A new law redefines underage possession of alcohol in Fort Dodge, and a second measure to keep minors out of drinking establishments late at night is moving toward approval.
The City Council unanimously gave final approval on Monday to the law that changes the definition of possession of alcohol by a minor to include alcohol in the body. Under that law, any underaged person who registered a .02 blood alcohol content on a preliminary breath test would be deemed to be in possession of alcohol.
Anyone convicted of that offense could face a fine of up to $500.
There was no debate before the council voted.
The council also gave preliminary approval to a proposal that would prohibit people under age 21 from being in a business with a liquor license after 10 p.m. unless they're with their parents.
That deadline won't apply to businesses that can prove that more than half of their revenue comes from sales of food or items other than alcohol.
The council gave the measure preliminary approval on a unanimous vote. It must be approved two more times to become law.
Mary Jo Dencklau, owner of Billiards and Spirits on Central Avenue, expressed concern about the proposal. She said 18- to 20-year-olds come to her establishment ''to basically dance.''
She said that her staff does a ''very good job'' of preventing underage drinking.
''Where will kids go if this passes?'' she asked.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
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SouthSide
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10-15-08 2:14 PM
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thinkaboutit: Id have no problem with the cops setting up shop outside the bars. I just think this is the total wrong way to go about underage drinking problem in FD. If the city has problem with Billiards then fine--shut them down, but to blanket the entire town with this crazy law is ridiculous! So, all FD homeowners, be prepared for a comeback of house parties and even more late night violence/crime! If you shake up the bees nest (Billiards) dont be surprised when those bees flee the scene and are now dispersed all over town now wrecking havoc!
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thinkaboutit
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10-15-08 12:21 PM
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BTW I have 4 of my own children 2 of which are teenagers and I am not stupid enough to think that my kids won't drink st sll before they come of age, BUT I do talk to my kids about sensitive issues, such as sex, drugs, pregnancy, and drinking. I think I can trust my kids enough with the knowledge that they have to make good choices, but then again what parent doesn't?
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thinkaboutit
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10-15-08 12:18 PM
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Southside- HOw about if the ppolice hold up outside of all bars in this town and at 2 in the morning and stop everyone who drives away from the bar because enevitably a vast majority of people who leave a bar at 2 in the morning have been drinking and chances are that they have way too much alcohol in their system. That way we can cut out the OWI issue on top of everything else!! It doesn't matter if underage drinkers are at someones home causing problems or at the bar causing problems, if they want to cause problems it doesn't matter where they are the police will go to where they are called. Its just absurd for anyone to make excuses for underage drinkers, Parents talk to your kids about underage drinking, its not our responsibility to educate YOUR children.
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thinkaboutit
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10-15-08 12:08 PM
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And anyone stupid enough to believe that the KIDS go there to "basically dance" is just ignorant. Everyone knows 2 facts about Billiards #1) If you are underage and want to drink that is the place to go since there are so little staff members and sooo many "patrons" and #2 that there are really only 2 "hard@$$es there and for the right price ANYONE can get in the door, drink-in-hand. Don't get me wrong I love The Wyatts to death, but I think that if the really want to deal with the underage drinking problem, maybe they better start with some new staff!
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thinkaboutit
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10-15-08 12:01 PM
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Mary Jo is NOT NOT NOT the owner of Billiards!!! She is just the pee-on there!
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jaybares
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10-15-08 7:44 AM
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The underage can practice binge drinking at house parties and get it out of their systems there while they learn their limits and resulting undesirable behavior. They can break things up for landlord, stumble around the yard, and fight each other. Once they learn their limits and correct their behavior, turn 21, and become responsible they can go uptown to refine their behavior.
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GossipGirl
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10-14-08 6:37 PM
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Wow! What is left for teenagers aged 18 - 20 to do now? No wonder people leave this town when an oppurtunity arises. There really is nothing to do here. I believe this new law will soon have consequences. I'm sorry, but banning them from attending a bar will not stop them from drinking. They will just find other places that permit to their habits. Way to go Fort Dodge; another ridiculous law set into effect.
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SouthSide
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10-14-08 3:14 PM
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As stated earlier, the curfew law does NOT apply to those 18-20 years old!!!
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firefly94
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10-14-08 2:35 PM
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Late at night??? What ever happened to the new curfew law for minors??? It seems like it has been completely ignored by underage minors.
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SouthSide
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10-14-08 2:07 PM
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Another thing 2 think about here: How will this affect the Iowa Central population? While I understand no ICCC student chooses 2 attend because they can go 2 Billiards, Studio (or whatever its called now), and many other night establishments, this is at the same time a plus 2 draw students in cause they can have options at night 2 go out & have a good time with friends & party, dance, etc. Every college town has some type of night life, BV/Storm Lake, NIACC/Mason City, etc. Fort Dodge will be hurt by this. I also find it odd Bob Paxton "resigned" on Aug. 27 & then this proposed law was brought up less than month later on Sept. 22. Was Paxton pushing against such a law for years to benefit recruits and student enrollment??? IDK, just an idea & now hes gone the council can move forward...???
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hawkeye1
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10-14-08 1:35 PM
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great law. billards is filled with little underage childern getting drunk and this law will stop billards from serving the little babies going in there. all the babies of fort dodge know to go there because they can get served. big deal they check id's at the door. but once inside, drink away. they don't care who they serve.
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Theodore
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10-14-08 11:44 AM
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Bar owners who don't want under-age drinking going on in their establishments are doing a good job of controlling it, however, there are some bar owners who don't mind the underage drinking because it brings people in to their bar. I wasn't a drinker in HS, but when I came home from college and I enjoyed going to Billiards and Studio and Goodies because my younger friends could join me, and drink with me and my other "over 21" friends. If the "underage bars" want to fight this law, they should offer to take the responsibility on themselves, employ off-duty police officers to give the city council peace of mind that underage drinking is being held to a minimum. Maybe Billiards can turn their satellite bar into a pizza oven and tell the kids they get free shots with a purchase of a pizza - that could drive up food income - maybe even to 50%!
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REPEAL
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10-14-08 10:57 AM
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It's interesting how, in each session, someone wants to "make history" by presenting and passing a new law. Look at Helen Miller and the smoking ban as a prime example. I hope she is remembered right out of a job.
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ThinkFD
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10-14-08 10:51 AM
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Kids are not going to billards to 'basically dance.' Number one, what is the basically implying? Two, kids don't go there to dance, they go because Denny will give them free shots to them and all their underage friends.
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BoogsDelbreaux
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10-14-08 10:05 AM
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Look at 50% of the businesses on Central Ave, and you may have some idea of why kids take up drinking as recreation on the weekend. There are more bars per capita in FD than in New Orleans or Dublin,Ire. The adults set the example people, now you are going saddle the kids with criminal records that could affect college admission and future employment. This ordinance is unnecessary, unenforcable, and hypocritical.
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jaybares
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10-14-08 7:52 AM
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Mary Jo Dencklau, owner of Billiards and Spirits on Central Avenue needs to waddle back to the satelite bar on busy nights to see what the thirsty dancers are drinking. Quite a few are consuming other than pop (soda for ******* types) or bottled water. Then they want to try out their pent up punk fighting and pushing skills. Let them practice drinking at home.
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nottotell
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10-14-08 7:20 AM
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Serpico I think you are right. I think these kids will just go outside of the city limits and drink. But, I am more concerned too about how everything that happens is blamed on the young people. We NEED some of those young people here in Fort Dodge to continue to run things and live hear and be proud of FT Dodge. And even though a lot of people dont think so, there are a lot of things to be proud of Ft Dodge for.
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serpico
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10-14-08 6:32 AM
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Well here we go again cracking down on our kids. Never do we read about any creative ideas as to how to bring about things to do for our younger citizens, but instead only pass new laws to keep them under control. And what is with the $500 fine thing. Last December a messenger article reads that one can get up to a $500 fine if the new curfew is violated, now $500 fine if any alcohol is detected. With today’s economy a $500 fine would be a major hardship for most families. The message I get is a blaming message directed at our kids for Fort Dodge’s troubles, and that the only way to try and handle problems is to create a repressive environment. Careful Fort Dodge, you are going to push the kids outside of the city limits creating major safety issues, I’ll leave the rest to your imagination as to what can happen at secret parties in wooded areas.
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SouthSide
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10-14-08 3:26 AM
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PART 1 Let me begin by saying that I am ALL for cleaning up Fort Dodge & coming down hard on all the underage drinking going on in cities all over the US, especially FD! I'm also in agreement in with the new FD possession of alcohol law if there's alcohol in the body then underage person can also be arrested, etc. What I'm NOT in agreement with is the push for no person under 21 in bar establishments after 10 p.m. Now, I understand this might seem contradicting, but hear me out here, because the owner of Billiards does bring about a valid point. This proposed law will definitely backfire on the city and those pushing it!!! This is without a doubt!!!
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SouthSide
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10-14-08 3:24 AM
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PART 2 This isn't stopping underage drinking, it's only pushing it out amongst the FD streets & all over town for mayhem/trouble 2 happen elsewhere. The point of the law is 2 STOP it, right? Not let it continue, as long as its not in the bar! This will only bring MUCH MUCH MORE problems & crime around FD late at night, as these kids will undoubtedly be drinking AND driving (Wouldnt u rather those who did it were all in 1 place & not driving, but in a bar?); the entertainment aspect of FD is subpar at best & now theyre taking away a dance club option. Yes, I know there’s those who drink, but theres also those who go 2 have good time as well. If police want 2 catch underage drinkers why not have them already in 1 place & easier 2 catch??? Maybe police could simply beef up their presence inside the bars & just go about it that way?
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SouthSide
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10-14-08 3:20 AM
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PART 3 This will only lead to kids becoming even more bored and doing more destructive and violent acts. And for those thinking theyre shouldn’t be out late anyways and abide by curfew, well the city curfew doesn’t pertain to those 18-20 yrs. old. Sorry about the length and oh yeah, I’m over 21 years old, hold no allegiances to any bar/rest. Owners, nor know any of them personally, and no longer live in FD, so it doesn’t pertain to me, but I still have a soft place in my heart for FD and think this is TOTALLY the wrong way to go about attacking underage drinking and it will definitely lead to even more problems.
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