Alcohol laws of Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
The Alcohol laws of Wisconsin are neither as restrictive as Utah
nor as permissive as Missouri
, and have their own unique features.
At least two municipalities in Wisconsin prohibit the retail sale of alcohol: the city of Sparta
, and the village of Ephraim
.
Ephraim
is the only municipality in Wisconsin that prohibits the beverage sale of alcohol.
The most significant age-related drinking law of the 1983 legislative session was 1983 Wisconsin Act 74, effective July 1, 1984, which created a drinking age of 19.
Meeting in special session at the call of the governor, the legislature enacted 1985 Wisconsin Act 337, which created a 21 drinking age and brought the state into compliance with the NMDA (National Minimum Drinking Age) on September 1, 1986.
The NMDA law was amended to permit an exception for those persons who were between ages 18 and 21 on the effective date of the law. (Wisconsin 19- and 20-year-olds were
“grandfathered in” by this exception after enactment of Act 337. In effect, the state did not have a uniform age of 21 until September 1, 1988.)
by German immigrants on Sunday, as well as the prevalence of alcoholism. The Wisconsin legislature passed a law in 1849 which made liquor sellers liable for the costs incurred by local governments in supporting alcoholics. Ten years later, the state prohibited liquor sales on Sundays.
In 1872, alcohol regulation reached new heights in the state with the passage of the Graham Law. This legislation prohibited drunkenness, sale of alcohol to minors, and required all liquor sellers to post a $2000 bond (more than $30,000 in 2007 U.S. dollars). German-Americans fought the new law in the courts and at the ballot box. Although they lost challenges in the courts, they were able to elect a friendlier legislature. In 1874, the new lawmakers passed less restrictive laws which lowered the bond to $500, allowed Sunday liquor sales, and created certain safe havens for liquor sellers to escape liability for alcoholics.
Wisconsin, like the rest of the United States, prohibited alcohol consumption during Prohibition
, which lasted from 1920 to 1933. But even before Prohibition ended, Wisconsin created work-arounds. In 1926, voters approved a referendum allowing the manufacture of beer, if not its consumption. And the state repealed its law enforcing Prohibition in 1929. Wisconsin Senator John J. Blaine
sponsored the Act which later became the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution
, ending Prohibition. The state was the second to ratify the amendment on April 25, 1933.
Alcohol laws of Utah
The alcohol laws of Utah regulate the selling and purchasing of alcohol in the United States state of Utah. A person must be 21 years old to buy or consume alcohol. The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has regulated the sale of alcoholic beverages since 1935, two years after the end...
nor as permissive as Missouri
Alcohol laws of Missouri
The alcohol laws of Missouri are among the most permissive in the United States when compared to other U.S. states, though Nevada's and Louisiana's are similar...
, and have their own unique features.
Retail sale of alcohol
State law prohibits retail sale of liquor and wine between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., and beer between midnight and 8:00 a.m. State law allows local municipalities to further restrict retail sales of alcohol, or ban the issuance of retail liquor licenses altogether. Local laws often prohibit beer sale after 9:00 p.m.At least two municipalities in Wisconsin prohibit the retail sale of alcohol: the city of Sparta
Sparta, Wisconsin
Sparta is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States, along the La Crosse River. The population was 9,522 at the 2010 census.-Notable people:*William Hawley Atwell, U.S. District Court Judge in Texas*Larry Baumel, NASCAR...
, and the village of Ephraim
Ephraim, Wisconsin
-Events:The city's main festival is Fyr Bal, a Scandinavian celebration held near the solstice in mid-June to drive out the wicked winter witch. Bonfires burn along the shoreline as residents and visitors gather to celebrate the beginning of summer....
.
Beverage sale of alcohol
State law requires that bars be closed between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Monday through Friday; 2:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Exceptions are made on New Years Eve, when no closing is required, and for changes in Daylight Savings Time. State law does not permit municipalities to further restrict when bars must be closed. Municipalities may elect, however, to prohibit the issuance of liquor licenses, making the municipality effectively dry.Ephraim
Ephraim, Wisconsin
-Events:The city's main festival is Fyr Bal, a Scandinavian celebration held near the solstice in mid-June to drive out the wicked winter witch. Bonfires burn along the shoreline as residents and visitors gather to celebrate the beginning of summer....
is the only municipality in Wisconsin that prohibits the beverage sale of alcohol.
Drinking age
The drinking age in Wisconsin is 21. In Wisconsin, however, those under the age of 21 may still be served alcohol if they are with their parents, guardians, or spouse, so long as they are of legal drinking age. People 18 to 20 may also possess (but not consume) alcohol as a part of their employment.The most significant age-related drinking law of the 1983 legislative session was 1983 Wisconsin Act 74, effective July 1, 1984, which created a drinking age of 19.
Meeting in special session at the call of the governor, the legislature enacted 1985 Wisconsin Act 337, which created a 21 drinking age and brought the state into compliance with the NMDA (National Minimum Drinking Age) on September 1, 1986.
The NMDA law was amended to permit an exception for those persons who were between ages 18 and 21 on the effective date of the law. (Wisconsin 19- and 20-year-olds were
“grandfathered in” by this exception after enactment of Act 337. In effect, the state did not have a uniform age of 21 until September 1, 1988.)
History
Soon after Wisconsin became a state, settlers from the Eastern United States (known as Yankees) took issue with the consumption of alcoholby German immigrants on Sunday, as well as the prevalence of alcoholism. The Wisconsin legislature passed a law in 1849 which made liquor sellers liable for the costs incurred by local governments in supporting alcoholics. Ten years later, the state prohibited liquor sales on Sundays.
In 1872, alcohol regulation reached new heights in the state with the passage of the Graham Law. This legislation prohibited drunkenness, sale of alcohol to minors, and required all liquor sellers to post a $2000 bond (more than $30,000 in 2007 U.S. dollars). German-Americans fought the new law in the courts and at the ballot box. Although they lost challenges in the courts, they were able to elect a friendlier legislature. In 1874, the new lawmakers passed less restrictive laws which lowered the bond to $500, allowed Sunday liquor sales, and created certain safe havens for liquor sellers to escape liability for alcoholics.
Wisconsin, like the rest of the United States, prohibited alcohol consumption during Prohibition
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
, which lasted from 1920 to 1933. But even before Prohibition ended, Wisconsin created work-arounds. In 1926, voters approved a referendum allowing the manufacture of beer, if not its consumption. And the state repealed its law enforcing Prohibition in 1929. Wisconsin Senator John J. Blaine
John J. Blaine
John James Blaine was the 24th Governor of Wisconsin and a United States Senator. He served as Mayor of Boscobel, on the Grant County Board of Supervisors, Wisconsin Attorney General, and in the Wisconsin State Senate...
sponsored the Act which later became the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution
Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution repealed the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which had mandated nationwide Prohibition...
, ending Prohibition. The state was the second to ratify the amendment on April 25, 1933.
See also
- Dry countyDry countyA dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
- List of dry communities by U.S. state#Wisconsin
- Tavern League of WisconsinTavern League of WisconsinThe Tavern League of Wisconsin is a trade association of alcoholic beverage retailers in the state of Wisconsin. The League was created in 1935, two years after the end of Prohibition, and today boasts 5000 members...