A city report aiming to curb excessive alcohol consumption and promote safer practices was released March 29 with mixed reception from local city and university leaders.
The study was the result of year-long research and multiple public hearings in Madison by the Subcommittee on Comprehensive Alcohol Issues of the Alcohol License Review Committee.
Ald. Kent Palmer, District 15, who was chair of the subcommittee, said he hopes the report will lead to specific legislation for nightclubs and drink specials and that in the future, it will lead to an educational campaign regarding the risks involved with alcohol. Palmer added that the recommendations within the report have the capability to reduce calls to detox, binge drinking, vehicular mayhem and domestic abuse.
\If we can do that and make the difference in even a couple of people's lives all the effort will be worth it,"" Palmer said.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he disagreed with many of the issues brought up in the report.
""The subcommittee's product is well intentioned, but way off base in its recommendations,"" he said.
According to UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley, who was heavily involved in downtown alcohol issues as university provost, the report's recommendation for the creation of additional underage venues should be seen as a testament to the influence students had on the report.
""By and large, students should be pleased by the thoughtful, balanced approach the report takes,"" he said.
Members of the UW-Madison community will have an opportunity to provide additional input on the unfinalized report during an ALRC public hearing April 4 at Grainger Hall, 975 University Ave., from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Another suggestion made by the subcommittee is the regulation of drink specials. Tom Garver, a citizen member of the subcommittee, said they may recommend taverns to have week long drink specials instead of daily ones. A proposed ordinance within the report prohibits any drink specials between 8 p.m. and closing.
""Folks advertising for a week a type of drink special is fine, but if it is just to draw people in on a slow night to come drink a bunch of booze so the bar can make a little money, that's what concerns us,"" Palmer said.
However, Susan Crowley, director of prevention services at University Health Services, said that some students were concerned that increasing the cost of alcohol in taverns will result in more unsupervised drinking at house parties. However, she said most of the police interactions and overconsumption of alcohol is already taking place outside of taverns.
To better regulate taverns the report recommended the formation of an entertainment district which would concentrate drinking establishments and adult entertainment into one area, something Verveer said he does not feel comfortable supporting without more information.
""The entertainment concept has just not been well researched at this point,"" he said.
Despite his support for the report Wiley said he does not expect it to be a silver bullet.
""I don't think there's one simple final solution to this, I just think it's a lot of little things that will add up to making the city a little bit safer,"" he said.
