UNI officials wants ban on drink specials extended

A University of Northern Iowa official wants a state law barring the “drink specials” offered by some taverns. University of Northern Iowa substance abuse services coordinator Julie Thompson. Thompson says since it’s so easy to “get wasted” for a couple of bucks a night, she can talk about responsible drinking until she’s blue in the face but won’t make much headway. The state doesn’t regulate the sale of other legal goods, but Thompson says alcohol is a special case as it involved date rape, vandalism and other things that’re link to excessive consumption ofalcohol.Thompson says with the right to sell a drug like alcohol should come a heavier responsibility. Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Commission administrator Lynn Walding says there is a worrisome trend on college campuses.Walding says kids now often drink just to get drunk.Walding says competition’s fierce for the college student’s money, and he sees taverns competing with drink specials.Walding says restrictions on bar specials might work well in college towns, but not so well in others.While Walding hesitates to push for a state law that would affect all barkeepers, he says it would level the playing field, whereas local drinking ordinances might just send college kids to surrounding towns.