Thursday, August 28, 2008

Green Bay Packers Tailgate Party

This weekend, I caught up with an old friend who's been living in Madison, Wisconsin for the past few years. She told me that the beer culture and consumption there is very different - entire families go out to the bar together on a Tuesday night, children included. She says it is not at all unusual to see kids at bars with their parents and grandparents. In fact, she claimed that she has been told that the law there is that children under the age of 18 allowed to drink they're with your parents. From ages 18 to 21, it's forbidden again. She wasn't sure if this was actually on the law books, or if it's just tacitly tolerated.

Does anyone know the facts on this? Is this actually true? If it is, I'm pissed as hell at my parents for not raising me in Wisconsin. Because when I look at this photo of a Green Bay fan wearing a cheesehead helmet with antlers, beerbonging in the parking lot at a time of day when someone in the foreground is still drinking coffee, I feel like they should have a "Birthright: Wisconsin" charity the same way they have free trips to Isreal for young American Jews.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

While I don't think that it is "technically' legal for kids to drink at bars, it is widely accepted, and no bartender worth his salt actually bothers to card anyone. When I went to Wisconsin at 19, I had absolutely no trouble buying beer and liquor from bars, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. No one even batted an eye. But really, what the hell else is there to do there?

Anonymous said...

I can say that if you are under 21 and with your parents, and the establishment allows it, you can legally drink in a WI bar: WI 125.07(1)(a).

I grew up in MN right on the border of WI. Back in the day, we would find randoms to act as our mom/dad as we drank.

Wisconsin has taken more from me than you can imagine. I hate that state!!

Anonymous said...

If you're between the ages of 18-21 and you're married to someone over 21 you can drink with them at a bar.

Anonymous said...

Are those parachute pants?

Anonymous said...

I have many fond childhood memories of hanging out at the Village Bar on Speedway in Madison with my parents and grandparents. Are you saying that's not normal?

Quarter-Life Crisis said...

It is very legal in WI to drink with your parents until the age of 21. Most bars don't really care, except the row of bars on Water Street in downtown Milwaukee. This bartender at Brothers wouldn't let my sister drink with my parents, my husband, and myself after my graduation

PartyPooped said...

If you're married to someone over 21 it's ok? As if I need MORE reasons to find myself a healthy midwestern childbride!

Anonymous said...

the marriage thing is absolutely not true...it's legal to drink with your parents at any age but the bartender has the right to refuse service.

Anonymous said...

You can drink in Wisconsin with your spouse if they are 21 and you are not... as long as you can prove it. I bartend in Wisconsin, and if someone brings in their marriage license, I can serve them. Doing that and the serving minors with their parents, is totally up to the discretion of the bartender on duty.

doctressjulia said...

I am a bartender in Madison, and HELL YES, I DO CARD. It is, however, legal to serve a minor if they are with a legal guardian. And, you do have to prove it. And, I am quite 'worth my salt'. Asshole.

tiny bones said...

I love wisconsin! tmj4 (that's the southeastern WI news channel) did a report on bars allowing minors to drink with parents where they sent a cop out with his 13 year old son. Pretty much all the bars allowed it. Plus my parents and friend parents growing up would always get beer for bbqs and parties and let the kids have some (if they're not too young).

apparently some guy was arrested at state fair one year for giving his 2 year old beer...hah...grand ole badger state...