Along with an overview of the drinking scene at UW-Madison, the Policy Alternatives Community Education meeting Tuesday saw the resurfacing of a controversial keg registration ordinance.
Madison Alcohol Policy Coordinator Joel Plant spoke at the meeting about a host of issues relating to drinking in Madison, ranging from house parties to liquor licenses.
Police consider houses throwing parties to be illegal taverns, Plant said, adding that house parties have become less frequent in recent months as a result of good policing.
'Being preventative instead of reactive saves us time, money and heartache,' Plant said.
Ald. Paul Skidmore, District 9, announced his intentions to revive a keg registration ordinance that died in city government last year. The ordinance was strongly opposed by alders Mike Verveer, District 4, and Austin King, District 8, who represent the bulk of UW-Madison students.
'There's just no need to limit the number of kegs,' Verveer said. 'It's just too big brotherish to me.'
According to John Lucas, spokesperson for UW-Madison, the university supports the new keg registration proposal.
'House party issues are definitely a problem,' Lucas said. 'Definitely a problem that contributes to Halloween and Mifflin Street.'
Verveer was not surprised by the university's support of the proposal.
'This goes back to the 1990s,' Verveer said. 'There's long been an interest in Bascom Hall to have the city crack down.'
Lucas said many neighborhood associations support the proposal as well as the ongoing discussion of alcohol-related issues. But, he added, it is not an issue that is going to improve overnight.
'People getting together and checking on the issues and staying up to date is always a good thing,' Lucas said.
A citywide comprehensive alcohol policy is underway, Plant said, one he hopes will be in place within a few months. Data collecting and analysis, along with an improved website, will aid in the resolution of alcohol related problems, Plant added.
Yet, Verveer said he was concerned about the direction the discussion was taking, specifically with Skidmore's plan to revive the keg registration ordinance.
'I don't understand why they feel they need this tool,' Verveer said, referring to the city and police. 'If anything it would just encourage different forms of alcohol consumption.'
