Getting a Beer in Iowa Is Tougher Than You Think

[EV_Ares]

As the Ames Straw Poll approaches, GOP presidential hopefuls are rolling up the sleeves of their brand new flannel shirts and scrambling to be “the guy you want to have a beer with.” But thanks to outdated regulations and onerous taxes, it’s tougher to get a beer in Iowa than you might think—no matter whom you’re drinking with.

Some of Iowa’s regulations are entertainingly anachronistic.

Bartenders are prohibited from pouring water down the drain while serving an officer of the law.

Don’t try asking your local bartender to put something on a tab—those are illegal, too.

And if a tavern keeper is exhausted after a long day of following archaic laws? Well, he can’t open up a cold one; it’s unlawful for an owner to drink in his own establishment after closing.

Candidates traveling with their families should be particularly careful in Ames—it’s against the law to have three sips of beer while in bed with your wife.

But some policies aren’t nearly as funny. Until last year, Iowa imposed a limit of 6 percent alcohol by volume on beer production,

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[Bluzmann57]

1. I'm an Iowan

And I don't have any trouble getting a beer. Can't go to a bar or store right now because it's 7:30 Sunday morning, but who in the hell wants a beer at 7:30 in the morning unless one is a third shift worker? I think maybe Harry Graver needs to go back to New Haven and leave us Heartlanders alone with his east coast biased bullshit.

[rurallib]

2. I read someplace that Iowa has the loosest liquor laws

outside of Vegas. I know in my traveling days (mostly east) that I missed Iowa's laws.
Back before Harold Hughes, Iowa had laws that were a joke, but even then weren't the worst.

[GKirk]

6. You answered your own question..

...as to why someone might want to buy a beer at 7:30am on a Sunday.
And just because someone might want to buy a beer at that time doesn't mean
they want to consume it at that time.

[3waygeek]

3. It used to be a lot harder...

Iowa had state liquor stores until the early 80s, and ration books until the early 60s. Back then, every time you went to the state store, they'd stamp your book. When your book was filled, you couldn't buy any more, at least legally.

[ThomWV]

4. Alcohol is a poison to the mind and soul, no one should drink it.

Alcohol has done more harm to mankind than nuclear bombs

[tibbiit]

7. i agree with you about alcohol 100%

It is a killer. The worst drug of all.
It also tastes good and is nice in moderation.
tib

[Inspired]

5. We can run tabs. I do it all the time. What a load of nonsense! n/t