Wisconsin should add an off-site option to liquor licenses
It is time to divorce the location from the license and focus instead on the businesses providing the service when it comes to the ability to serve alcoholic beverages at weddings and other events.
The burgeoning wedding-barn business in Wisconsin faces the risk of being shut down by lawmakers unable to think outside the box on the state’s liquor laws. Under proposed changes to the state’s liquor laws, wedding barns and similar venues would have to either get a liquor license or be limited to only six events a year, with no more than one a month.
The Badger Institute, a conservative, pro-free-market group, rightfully describes the conditions of the proposed law as being “absurd.” It is part of a group, led by Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) that has come out against the proposal noting that liquor licenses are often difficult or impossible to get. This is an intentional legal and policy decision in the state which puts a stranglehold on the number of liquor licenses available in communities. The law makes no distinction between restaurants wanting to sell the occasional drink with meals or the traditional shot and a beer bar. The current law also leaves very little room for non-traditional venues such as wedding barns.
This is shortsighted and reflects the inability of legislators and policy makers to think outside of the four walls of a tavern in finding a solution.
A workable solution would be for the state to create a category of caterer licenses which would be an additional endorsement available to businesses which currently have a valid liquor license in good standing. The license would serve as an extension of the businesses’ own license meaning that a beer or wine-only license would allow the sale of those beverages while a combination license would allow mixed drinks to be catered at an event. Some distance could be set such as being able to provide alcoholic beverage catering services within 25 miles of the licensed establishment. What this would allow is for whatever venue it would be, from barn to lakefront park, it would, in effect, become an extension of their established business and subject to all the same regulations and provisions.
Such a move would add value to rural taverns and other establishments across the state while allowing greater flexibility for event venues.
Those planning a wedding or event would have options of choosing beverage service providers just as they do with selecting the caterer for food or a DJ for their music. This would also ensure greater compliance with codes because the license would be tied to not only the off-site locations but to their primary facility and violations would be cumulative to that establishment.
Contact your state legislators and tell them Wisconsin consumers need greater flexibility when selecting venues for weddings and other events. Tell them Wisconsin needs a caterer license option for off-site alcoholic beverage sales.
Members of The Star News editorial board include Publisher Carol O’Leary, General Manager Kris O’Leary and News Editor Brian Wilson.
