Although most in the ISU and Ames community believe irresponsible alcohol consumption was a primary cause for the 2004 Veishea riot, feelings remain mixed as to whether changing alcohol policies will prove beneficial.

“Alcohol played a major part — people used it irresponsibly and did things they shouldn’t have done and caused it to be canceled,” Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco said.

Students and community leaders are debating changing the age of admittance into Ames bars after ISU President Gregory Geoffroy stated Wednesday that changes could be made to “dry Veishea.”

Students, mainly those on the Government of the Student Body, have supported lowering the bar entrance age in Ames from 21 to 19 years old. GSB officials have argued that doing so would alleviate irresponsible and underage drinking in the city because more students would be allowed to socialize in a supervised setting.

Students have also said this would decrease the need for off-campus parties, which police, city and ISU officials said contributed to the April 18 riot.

Ames bar owners are divided over the issue.

Mike Brown, general manager at People’s Bar and Grill, 2428 Lincoln Way, is against lowering the Ames bar age to 19.

“If you have a large amount of people in any small area, you are going to have problems with all sorts of various things,” Brown said.

Lowering the bar age to 19 would burden bar owners with policing the age of everyone in their establishments and would make them liable for underage drinkers who are caught violating the law, he said.

“It should be up to the law enforcement community; it is not up to us to do their job,” Brown said.

Barry Tewes, manager of Paddy’s, 124 Welch Ave., was cautiously optimistic regarding lowering the bar age.

“It could help the problem, it could hurt the problem, but it would be good for business. The market would be much better,” Tewes said of the proposed age requirement.

Allowing 19- and 20-year-olds into Ames bars could help keep kids out of trouble, he said.

“With younger kids drinking, they are going to drink either way,” Tewes said.

City and ISU officials said more analysis needs to be put into the issue. Tedesco said, however, there is concern that changing the policy could be counterproductive and promote dangerous underage drinking.

“People don’t use alcohol responsibly and they can get out of control,” he said.

Brown admitted the change would make alcohol more easily available to those who are underage.

Tony Borich, vice president of the Campustown Student Association, said he supports lowering the bar age to 19.

“I think it is promising that everyone is looking at all options on the table and working together, we can find solutions,” Borich said.