In Wisconsin, fourteen-year-olds could serve seated patrons in bars and restaurants alcohol under a plan that two Republican state lawmakers circulated.
Only employees who are at least 18 years old are currently permitted to serve alcohol to clients in Wisconsin. This would apply to employees between the ages of 14 and 17. They couldn’t serve drinkers who were standing at the bar; they could only serve seated clients.
Sen. Rob Stafsholt of New Richmond and Rep. Chanz Green of Grandview, who are the bill’s sponsors, wrote in a memo seeking co-sponsors. They believe that the current age restriction on serving alcohol “causes workforce issues due to an establishment’s underage employees only being able to do part of their job.”
The state’s labor issues in the food and beverage sector could be solved, they believe. Their proposal “creates a simple solution” to the problem.
Although it is illegal for anybody under the age of 21 to consume alcohol, youngsters of any age are permitted to do so in Wisconsin’s pubs and restaurants, provided they are with their parents.
The measure mandates that the bar’s or restaurant’s licensed operator be present and in charge of supervision.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Wisconsin would have the lowest age restriction for employees who are allowed to serve alcohol if the plan is approved.
The proposal is far from becoming law. The Republican-controlled Senate and Assembly must approve it, and Democratic Governor Tony Evers must sign it.Â
His spokesperson, Britt Cudaback, mocked the GOP plan on Monday by citing a number of efforts Evers has put forward to solve the state’s labor shortage problem, including funding schools and building more homes.
