Madison's Alcohol License Review Committee will discuss a proposal Wednesday to allow local restaurant, bar and club owners to apply for a \Visual and Performing Arts License,"" which would allow underage students into venues to see live shows and performances.
However, some city officials are worried this license will circumvent state law.
""The problem seems to be that ... it's not defined in the state statutes what a visual and performing arts venue is,"" PACE project director Susan Crowley said. However, she said the license would be legal and comply with state statutes.
""The main motivation for this whole endeavor is to try to liberalize the current rules relating to underagers,"" said Mike Verveer, Madison City Council president.
So far, ALRC has asked for several drafts of the license, the first of which were unsatisfactory, according to ALRC member Stephanie Rearick, a proponent of the Visual and Performing Arts License.
According to Rearick, those drafts, provided by a representative of the city attorney's office, were more akin to the cabaret license, the current law dictating that any establishment with dancing must apply for a liquor license.
Rearick said this confuses restaurant and bar owners. The Visual and Performing Arts license would simplify things for owners looking to improve revenue and provide a more engaging service, she said.
""Hopefully the process will be simplified and streamlined enough that it won't be scary ... to get the license and admit all ages,"" Rearick said.
Not only would owners need to apply for the license, which might cost around $100, but their business would change with an underage crowd.
Rearick said venue owners would have to come up with non-alcoholic events that would attract underage crowds and generate money.
Most importantly for students interested in local music unavailable to them under the current law, Rearick stressed that at ALRC meetings, students do not speak up-and that may make the difference.
""It's a lot more likely to happen if people are actually out there asking for it,"" Rearick said. ""Especially people under 21. If they want this stuff to happen, it'd be really helpful if they'd speak up.""
Verveer said this license is important for underagers, adding even if a person possesses a fake ID, there is always the threat of a police bar check.
""It's a pain if your friends don't all have good fakes ... It's a stupid law,"" he said.
