An ordinance sponsored by Mayor Dave Cieslewicz that would prohibit the consumption of alcohol by employees of licensed retail alcohol establishments while working is being considered by the Alcohol License Review Committee .
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, argues that the proposed ordinance is unnecessary.
""It is a solution in search of a problem largely because it is already against the law for an employee of a liquor license establishment, bar or restaurant to be under the influence,"" he said.
Verveer says the decision of whether or not to allow an employee to drink on the job should be left to the discretion of the owner.
Madison's Alcohol Policy Coordinator Katherine Plominski does not think servers should be able to consume alcohol while on the job.
""Most establishments have in-house rules to stop this from happening, but it is surprising how many don't,"" she said.
Plominski said this is an opportunity for Madison to help shape state policy by changing the current ordinance.
""There is a sober server ordinance on the books, but it is hard to understand. … It needs to be looked at again,"" she said.
Some opponents, such as UW-Madison student and ALRC board member Mark Woulf, find the proposed ordinance to be too broad.
""By prohibiting all drinking, we are stepping on some toes. If a family member of an employee walks in and wants a drink, that would be illegal under the new ordinance as it is written now,"" he said.
Woulf, Plominski and Verveer all agree the ordinance needs to be amended before it can be passed.
The ordinance was originally scheduled to be discussed at today's ALRC meeting, but has been postponed to a later date.
Cieslewicz is currently revising the proposal so it would only affect owners, staff and contracted employees.
