Ames Police have yet to utilize Story County’s keg ordinance since it was passed in January 2006.

The keg ordinance requires every keg sold in the county to have a label attached to it that identifies who purchased the keg of beer.

The purpose of the ordinance was to provide police with another way to identify those who buy alcohol for minors and to prevent it from happening.

Although it was passed more than a year ago, it has not changed much for police and businesses that sell kegs.

Ames Police Chief Chuck Cychosz said Ames Police have not used the ordinance at all.

Dennis Gano, owner of Cyclone Liquors, 626 Lincoln Way, said no one has used it at his store.

“Nobody has ever come in to see the books yet,” he said.

Cychosz said just because the keg registration is not used often, it doesn’t mean it’s not helpful.

“I do believe that the people who purchase the beer need to take responsibility,” Cychosz said.

People were more upset giving out their information than taking the time to fill out the forms, explained Rich Parizek, store manager of The Keg Shop, 218 Welch Ave. #3.

“There were a couple of grumpy customers at first, but they all accepted after a while,” Parizek said. “They had no choice.”

As for keg sales, Gano said it’s hard to know whether they are decreasing because of the ordinance.

“The keg market was already on its way down,” Parizek said. “Keg sales have slowed down due to many factors.”

The ordinance will be superseded by a similar state law on July 1.

It will affect businesses in another way when the state law takes over – the businesses will be required to pay for the tags that are put on the kegs.

Parizek said it costs $5 for a packet of 25 stickers. In a time period of 14 months, the Keg Shop sells about 2,500 kegs.

Gano said despite the disadvantages, if the ordinance saves a life, it’s worth it.