In order to help prevent some of the chaos that has plagued past Veishea celebrations, a community task force made up of merchants, residents and officials has been distributing a “community Veishea pledge” to local bars, restaurants and grocery stores.

The pledge contains provisions which will encourage sobriety while discouraging excess alcohol consumption during the spring celebration. Several of the provisions include asking businesses to “discourage excess alcohol consumption and provide non-alcoholic alternatives.”

The pledge also asks businesses to not offer or promote “buy-one-get-one-free” specials or staggered pricing on alcoholic beverages.

The last provision asks businesses to “voluntarily pledge to stop selling alcohol during the critical hours of 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. during that evening of Veishea weekend” if Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco makes an emergency declaration.

Although only about one-third of Ames’ businesses have signed the pledge, George Belitsos, member of the task force and author of the 220-word pledge, said he is sure more businesses will sign it.

“We were to come up with an idea of a way for the community to support a dry Veishea,” Belitsos said. “Iowa State students have made a pledge to keep Veishea as alcohol-free as possible, and I thought the community, and alcohol vendors in particular, should take a pledge in an effort to help this happen.”

Belitsos said no local business, to his knowledge, has refused to sign the pledge.

Tom Zmolek, owner of People’s Bar and Grill and The Keg Shop, also is a member of the task force. He said both his businesses have signed the pledge.

“I don’t see any reason why anyone won’t sign it,” Zmolek said. “[The provisions] are a pretty small thing to ask to help preserve the history of Veishea and the future of Veishea.”

Zmolek said not advertising specials during Veishea does not affect his business significantly. He said People’s Bar and Grill, 2428 Lincoln Way, has never run alcohol specials during Veishea weekend, and he added that most bars raise their prices during that weekend because of the swelling crowds.

“There’s only so much room in the bars for people,” he said.

Zmolek said he does not believe the community Veishea pledge is single-handedly going to solve Veishea woes, but that the pledge is a step in the right direction.

The pledge is simple and straight-forward, and “it’s not a lot to ask” to help preserve Veishea, he said.

Zmolek also said the reason some businesses have not yet signed the pledge is not out of protest, but because many have either not yet received the paperwork or have forgotten to submit it.

“I forgot to sign it [at first], and I’m on the committee,” he joked, adding that the committee will distribute reminders by mail soon.

Another member of the task force, Tom Northrop, co-owner of Welch Ave. Station, said most of the points on the pledge his establishment already follows. Northrop said Welch Ave. Station, 207 Welch Ave., like People’s Bar and Grill, never has offered specials on alcoholic drinks during Veishea.

He said if local bars did offer specials, all alcohol probably would be at retail price, and consumption eventually would go down.

The only concern local merchants might have about the pledge, Northrop said, is the provision that gives law enforcement the power to ask bars to stop serving alcohol during their “critical hours.”

But this situation probably would never happen, Northrop said. “If it was for my own protection to be shut down, I would shut down on my own.”

Jay Wadding, manger of Hy-Vee Food and Drug Store, 3800 W. Lincoln Way, said the store recently received paperwork concerning the community Veishea pledge. Because all the information has not yet been read by Hy-Vee managers, Wadding had no comment about whether the organization would sign the pledge.

“[The pledge] is a little thing to help the weekend be a little safer,” Northrop said. “It’s a small effort; nobody’s going to lose any money over it.”

Michael Jacobson, owner of Sportsman Lounge, 123 Main St., said his business is complying with the community Veishea pledge even though it is not affected by the celebration.

Jacobson said business rarely increases over Veishea weekend because of his tavern’s location.