Story County residents and students clashed over the merits of a proposed Board of Supervisors ordinance regarding keg registration during a forum Thursday.

Story County Attorney Stephen Holmes said the purpose of the ordinance is to raise awareness about the responsibility of purchasing a keg.

Holmes gave a short background on the ordinance and said that the ordinance was not designed to be directed specifically at students.

“We want to make people aware of the responsibilities that come [with purchasing a keg],” Holmes said. “You are on the line if that particular beer ends up in the wrong hands.”

Dave Stout, Government of the Student Body College of Business senator, said his main concern was with the accountability of law enforcement and the effectiveness of the ordinance on underage drinking. He said he was concerned that law enforcement would use the information for other purposes.

Stephanie Miller, junior in health and human performance, said the ordinance is meant to make people more responsible.

“If you are not doing anything wrong, then why do you care?” she said.

Henry Alliger, GSB speaker of the senate, said the ordinance was seen by many students to be the “‘man’ trying to hold us down.”

Denise Denton, Story County Prevention Policy Board member and senior lecturer in health and human performance, said similar ordinances elsewhere have been very effective.

“Keokuk County has seen a significant reduction in underage drinking,” Denton said.

Holmes addressed questions and concerns throughout the meeting.

“This has to do with everyone in the county and outside this town,” Holmes said. “It is not just a matter of concern for you, and it is not the be-all and end-all of underage drinking.”

He said going to surrounding counties to purchase kegs would not be a good idea. He said people caught with an unregistered keg would be brought to trial with evidence that they got a keg from another county. This would suggest that there may have been underage drinkers involved.

In addition, he said that both Boone and Polk County are considering similar ordinances.

Dave Reed, Boone County supervisor, said he attended the discussion to learn about the ordinance. The county plans to use the Story County ordinance as a guide for the ordinance it drafts.

Capt. Gary Foster, Story County chief deputy sheriff, said the ordinance would not be a cure-all, but is an important step in reducing underage drinking.

“We are always going to have a problem; does that mean we should not try to stop it?” he said.