Wisconsin Bill Would Allow 14-Year-Olds To Serve Alcohol

Fourteen-year-olds in Wisconsin might serve alcohol to seated prospects in bars and eating places underneath a invoice circulated for cosponsors Monday by a pair of Republican state lawmakers.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Fourteen-year-olds in Wisconsin might serve alcohol to seated prospects in bars and eating places underneath a invoice circulated for cosponsors Monday by a pair of Republican state lawmakers.

Beneath present regulation, solely employees age 18 and above can serve alcohol to prospects in Wisconsin. The invoice would broaden that to employees ages 14 to 17. They might solely serve to seated prospects, not drinkers who're on the bar itself.

The present age restrict on serving alcohol “causes workforce points as a result of an institution’s underage staff solely with the ability to do a part of their job,” the invoice sponsors Sen. Rob Stafsholt, of New Richmond, and Rep. Chanz Inexperienced, of Grandview, stated in a memo circulated Monday searching for cosponsors.

They stated their concept “creates a easy resolution” to the state’s workforce scarcity issues within the meals and beverage trade. The invoice requires the licensed operator of the bar or restaurant be on the premises and supervising.

Though nobody underneath the age of 21 can legally drink alcohol, these underneath 21 — together with minors of any age — in Wisconsin can drink in bars and eating places if they're with their dad and mom.

If the proposal passes, Wisconsin would have the bottom age restrict for employees allowed to serve alcohol, in accordance with the Nationwide Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

The measure is a good distance from changing into regulation. It should go the Senate and Meeting, each managed by Republicans, and be signed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. His spokesperson Britt Cudaback mocked the proposal Monday, itemizing quite a few initiatives Evers has proposed to handle the state’s workforce scarcity problem together with constructing extra housing and funding colleges, earlier than forwarding a message detailing the Republican invoice.