If you opened the Iowa State Daily last Thursday, you may have been just as surprised as we were to learn that Craig Buske, GSB ex-officio City Council liaison, had decided that he wouldn’t recommend that 19- and 20-year-olds be let into bars.

It has long been a belief of this editorial board that the bars owners themselves – not the city – who should decide who is allowed into their private establishments. However, for bars to be able to let minors in, the city must first approve.

We are disappointed that Buske came to this conclusion. According to the Daily staff reports, Buske spoke with bar owners, City Council members and Ames police. One group he didn’t speak with, however, was minors themselves. From our perspective, this statement in his interview seemed to be a little odd. How could he properly represent the campus when he doesn’t even talk to representatives of more than half the student population? Clearly there was little motivation to make this work on the part of Buske.

Bar owners should be adamant about the idea of producing more business and revenue. Concerts and dance nights at bars could provide new entertainment opportunities to those under 21. Opening the bars to minors may also reduce the number of dangerous house parties away from regulated drinking – at least until 2 a.m.

Of course, this would only be possible if bar managers were able to successfully keep alcohol out of minors’ hands – more easily said than done. In the article, some of the bar owners were not sure if it would be a good idea to let minors in, because it would be nearly impossible to keep alcohol out of all minors’ hands.

Regardless, the decision to let minors in should not be in the hands of the City Council. If some bars want to stick with only allowing 21-year-olds into bars, so be it. But if some establishments want to let younger customers in for the sake of business and are willing to take the risk, then why don’t we let them?