Bar time the subject of debate in Madison

It’s bar time in Wisconsin. Bar time is the theme of the latest debate in Madison, where lawmakers are considering a number of issues relating to alcohol laws. It is telling, given how few days our lawmakers actually spend working in Madison, that they are using the few days they are working to debate liquor laws. Chief among them is whether to extend bar closing time during the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee later this year. To be fair, the convention will draw tens of thousands of people to Milwaukee, many of them politician and journalists. Both groups are known to imbibe, and the booze will certainly be flowing. The proposal under consideration is to extend the current 2am bar time to 4am throughout parts of Southeastern Wisconsin. Lawmakers are also considering other laws regulating alcohol. Among them, a proposal favored by the Tavern League to regulate wedding barns and private event venues so that would be treated much the same as bars, with licensed bartenders and regulated closing times. Yet another bill would allow wineries to stay open until midnight rather than 9pm. There be lots of issues facing Wisconsin, but for now, the focus of our lawmakers is all about the booze and keeping it flowing.