Bo James gets 30-day suspension
Bo-James will receive a 30-day suspension of its liquor license and a $1,500 fine, according to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division docket.
The 21-only bar was charged with providing an underage person with an alcoholic beverage on Jan. 30, 2009.
Leah Cohen, the owner of Bo-James, filed an appeal based on the argument that the bar used reasonable care to determine patrons' ages.
The bartender who served the underage patrons was found not guilty in May 2009, Cohen said.
Cohen also appealed the charge because she believes the Iowa City police use of hired underage patrons, who snuck past the doorman, constituted entrapment.
The 30-day suspension will begin at 6 a.m. on Sept. 3, and will end at 6 a.m. on Oct. 3. No alcoholic beverages may be served during that time.
"My busiest 30 days of my year was the time chosen for this," Cohen said. Sept. 3 is the first home football game, and Oct. 3 is the day after Homecoming.
Cohen plans to begin the process of appealing today, and she says she is confident the bar will remain open.
— by Colleen Kennedy
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