Alcohol sales: How early is too early?

Partners2 group opposes earlier sale hours at local stores

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Staff writer

When Wisconsin passed a law in late December giving communities the option of allowing stores to begin selling alcohol earlier in the day, there seemed to be little controversy.

Class A retailers – which include grocery stores, liquor stores, gas stations and convenience stores – would be allowed to move the alcohol sales starting time from 8 a.m. to 6 a.m.

However, that two-hour difference will get a fight in Burlington before the City Council Feb. 7.

At last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting, the council asked for the ordinance to come back with the change from 8 a.m. to 6 a.m., reasoning that they could always vote no.

The council, though, appeared to have its misgivings about changing the time, as does a local awareness organization.

Christina Converset (formerly Weigler) heads the Burlington High School program Partners2 – an educational group that speaks out against alcohol and substance use.

She said Tuesday the group will officially protest any changes to the time at the Feb. 7 meeting.

“What we’re going to be asking the council to do is to leave it,” Converset said.

“Any time we dramatically expand the availability of alcohol in our community, we are putting teens at risk,” she added. “Availability is key to many kids to taking their first drink.”

While it was discussed at the Jan. 17 meeting that there are no proven studies showing the time change affects drinking, Converset said it is her belief that more time (and more availability) will create more drinking.

“I believe it has more to do with giving a greater availability,” Converset explained. “That additional two hours is each day.

“The more restrictive our hours are, the less alcohol that is available to teenagers,” Converset added.

In addition to Partners2 being at the meeting, the Racine County Youth Coalition will be there as well. Also, one of the two Burlington High School ad hoc representatives on the City Council – Sarnpal Dhillon – is involved in Partners2. Dhillon actually spoke up at the council meeting and questioned the changes.

Converset said Dhillon would again speak out against changing the time at the Feb. 7 meeting.

The student representative cannot actually vote on the measure, but Converset said the opportunity is there to let voices be heard.

“This is a perfect opportunity for Burlington once again to step up to the plate,” Converset said.

The council, for its part, seemed to raise as many objections to the change as support for it. City staff initially recommended keeping the time at 8 a.m., in part because of Partners2’s recommendation.

City Administrator Kevin Lahner said at the meeting that two retailers had supported the idea of moving the time up by two hours, though.

“We’re asking for input,” Lahner said at the meeting.

He got it.

Alderman Ed Johnson flat-out stated, “We have enough problems with alcoholism. It just seems stupid to me (to move it up).”

Mayor Bob Miller pointed out that taverns can sell, say, a 12-pack of beer at 6 a.m. without consequences – it just costs more than it would at a convenience store.

And Police Chief Peter Nimmer said there are no direct ties between the sales time and more kids drinking, but said Partners2 is opposing the move in a pre-emptive strike.

“I think the council right now has some mixed emotions on it,” Miller said. He also added that with taverns being able to sell, it would be a fairness issue as well.“The same rules and regulations apply to both places,” said Miller, in regards to age and having a proper ID. “It’s just a matter of whether I can buy it two hours earlier than at the other.”