Republican state lawmakers propose bill that lets 14-year-olds serve alcohol 

Fourteen-year-olds in Wisconsin could serve alcohol to seated customers in bars and restaurants under a bill circulated Monday for co-sponsors by a pair of Republican state lawmakers, the Associated Press reports. 

Under current law, only workers aged 18 and above can serve alcohol to customers in Wisconsin. The bill would broaden that to workers ages 14–17. They could only serve to seated customers, not those at the bar itself. 

The bill’s sponsors, Sen. Rob Stafsholt of New Richmond and Rep. Chanz Green of Grandview, believe they are creating a solution to the state’s workforce shortage problems in the food and beverage industry. The bill requires the licensed operator of the bar or restaurant to be on the premises and supervising. 

If the proposal passes, Wisconsin would have the lowest age limit for workers allowed to serve alcohol, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.  

The measure is a long way from becoming law. It must pass the Senate and Assembly, both controlled by Republicans, and be signed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.