Budget change would allow free beer and wine at fundraisers

Talk about it

Lawmakers sneaked dozens of last-minute goodies into the proposed state budget while most of us were sleeping last Friday morning.

One of those changes would let non-profit groups give free beer and wine at fundraising events without a local license.

Local governments and the state’s Tavern League fumed when they heard that.

Oshkosh finance director Peggy Steeno says the licenses make sure somebody takes responsibility for an event.

Pete Madland of the state’s Tavern League says it would let untrained volunteers serve drinks thus running the risk of putting more drunken drivers on the roads.

He said every college fraternity and sorority would charge $10 for a hamburger and free beer.

And he calls it unfair competition for bars that are already struggling. Joint Finance Committee aides said they didn’t know which legislator pushed for the measure – one of 31 changes in a package on tax policy.

The Tavern League says it will try to get the Assembly to put back the alcohol license mandate for fundraisers when the house takes up the budget next Tuesday.

Gov. Jim Doyle said he didn’t know about the measure, and it’s one of the items he’ll have to look at when he signs the budget.

Tags: free beer, wisconsin, fundraisers