Under a bill circulated Monday by a pair of Republican state lawmakers, fourteen-year-olds in Wisconsin could serve alcohol to seated customers in bars and restaurants.
Wisconsin law currently limits the age at which workers can serve alcohol to 18 and over. This bill would extend that to workers ages 14 to 17. Only seated customers could be served, not bar patrons.
Sen. Rob Stafsholt, of New Richmond, and Rep. Chanz Green, of Grandview, said in a memo circulated Monday seeking cosponsors that the current age limit on serving alcohol "causes workforce issues because underage employees are only able to perform a certain portion of their jobs."
Their idea "creates a simple solution" to the state's workforce shortage problems. As a requirement of the bill, the licensed operator of the bar or restaurant must be on the premises and supervising. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Wisconsin would have the lowest age limit for workers serving alcohol if the proposal passes.