Event raises awareness to change ‘outdated’ law

Katherine Bauer News Editor katherine.bauer@drake.edu @bauer_katherine

On any given night, music rings out at Lefty’s Live Music in Dogtown. However, once 9 p.m. strikes, there is often a noticeable difference.

When 9 p.m. comes along, everyone who is not 21 or older has to leave. A Des Moines city ordinance holds that 20-yearolds and younger are not allowed in bars after 9 p.m., including music venues that have a liquor license.

The Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC) and Lefty’s are trying to change that. Last Thursday, an event called Lights out at Nine attempted to draw attention to the “archaic ordinance,” according to Lefty’s co-owner and book manager Erik Brown.

“I’ve never been to another city that has something that feels like 1950s America,” Brown said. “We’re talking about arts. We’re not talking about night life scenes. I think when you limit people seeing art or experiencing art, it’s just a very old America we see, and that’s not what we are.”

Advocates through the years have taken on the ordinance but have never succeeded in changing the law.