If Iowa legislators have their way, primary responsibility for underage drinking in bars will shift from business owners to minors.

A bill proposed in the Iowa Senate last week supports cracking down on the use of fake IDs in drinking establishments. If the bill is passed, bar owners may require patrons to hand over their IDs along with a cover charge.

The bill’s creator, Sen. Tom Flynn, D-Epworth, said his idea stemmed from bar owners’ concerns about compliance with underage drinking laws.

“On occasion, when law enforcement officers enter a bar, all ID cards magically disappear. That’s a problem because it’s the word of the minor against the bartender,” he said.

Flynn said the bill protects bar owners from stiff penalties by allowing them to hold the IDs of suspected minors.

“Without some firm evidence, bar owners can present little ability to defend themselves,” he said. “We need to put emphasis on minors rather than emphasize penalties on the provider.”

Iowa law currently slaps a $1,500 fine upon both bartenders and liquor license owners who are caught serving minors.

Minors who are apprehended face a fine of $50 to $100 in addition to court costs, according to the Ames Police Department.

Ames Police Chief Dennis Ballantine said although the bill is a step forward, he questions its effectiveness. He added that bar owners may not follow through on the added responsibility.

“The concept is good, but I’m not sure how easy it will be to enforce,” he said.

Ballantine said because bar owners often overlook underage drinking on their premises, they should face stricter consequences.

“[Lawmakers] should raise the penalty for bar owners who admit minors, and it should be strong enough to put their license in jeopardy,” he said.

But J.R. Sheffer, owner of Tazzles, 126 Welch Ave., said the bill most likely will affect bars that allow 19-year-olds on the premises because they run a bigger risk of serving minors.

He said his employees keep minors out of Tazzles by retrieving suspicious-looking IDs.

“If we think an ID is false, we take it,” Sheffer said.

“The responsibility rests on us [because] we’re liable if someone gets in.”

Doormen at Tazzles receive a $3 bonus for every ID they seize, Sheffer said.

“It gives them an incentive to take IDs. It also scares them to know there’s a $1,500 fine over their heads,” he said.

The bill has evoked supportive opinions from some Iowa State students.

Craig Fink, junior in business, said many students use fake IDs as a ticket into Ames bars.

“I know quite a few people who use them,” he said.

“I think [the bill] is a good idea. I don’t know if it would cure the problem, but I think it would help.”

Flynn said some bar owners who admit minors, including some in Iowa City, complained that the bill not only creates unwarranted restrictions for customers, but that it burdens establishments.

But Flynn insisted the bill does not force business owners to confiscate IDs.

“My bill is permissive. It merely provides a tool for bar owners to prove whether an ID is legitimate,” he said.

“This is a fairness issue,” Flynn said. “It’s a good common sense approach.”