LRB-2839/1
PEN:kmg:km
1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE
March 13, 1995 - Introduced by Representatives Musser, Lorge, Baldwin, Vander
Loop, Baldus, F. Lasee, Johnsrud, Hahn, Handrick, Seratti, L. Young, Boyle,
Skindrud, Freese, Albers, Kreibich, Springer and Hasenohrl, cosponsored
by Senators Schultz, A. Lasee, Wineke, Risser, Decker and Breske. Referred
to Committee on State Affairs.
AB197,1,3
1An Act to repeal 85.07 (6);
to renumber and amend 125.02 (8m); and
to create
2125.02 (8m) (a) and (b) and 125.032 of the statutes;
relating to: lowering the
3legal drinking age to 19.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
The legal drinking age in Wisconsin is currently 21. The legal drinking age is
the age at which a person may legally purchase, possess and consume alcohol
beverages and enter premises licensed for the sale of alcohol beverages
unaccompanied by a parent, guardian or spouse who has attained the legal drinking
age. It is also the age at which a person may obtain most alcohol beverage licenses
and permits.
This bill lowers the legal drinking age to 19. The lower legal drinking age will
not take effect unless lowering the legal drinking age will not result in a loss of
federal highway funds.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB197, s. 1
4Section
1. 85.07 (6) of the statutes is repealed.
AB197, s. 2
5Section
2. 125.02 (8m) of the statutes is renumbered 125.02 (8m) (intro.) and
6amended to read:
AB197,1,77
125.02
(8m) (intro.) "Legal drinking age" means
21 years of age.:
AB197, s. 3
1Section
3. 125.02 (8m) (a) and (b) of the statutes are created to read:
AB197,2,22
125.02
(8m) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), 21 years of age.
AB197,2,43
(b) Nineteen years of age if the attorney general makes the certification under
4s. 125.032.
AB197, s. 4
5Section
4. 125.032 of the statutes is created to read:
AB197,2,8
6125.032 Certification regarding legal drinking age. (1) If an act of the
7U.S. congress does any of the following, the attorney general shall, within 30 days
8after the effective date of that federal act, certify that fact to the revisor of statutes:
AB197,2,109(a) Amends
23 USC 158 to lower the national minimum drinking age to 19
10years of age.
AB197,2,1111(b) Exempts this state from
23 USC 158.
AB197,2,1312(c) Repeals or amends
23 USC 158 so that no federal highway funds may be
13withheld from this state if the legal drinking age in this state is 19 years of age.
AB197,2,17
14(2) If the attorney general makes the certification under sub. (1), the definition
15of "legal drinking age" under s. 125.02 (8m) (b) takes effect on the first day of the 2nd
16month beginning after the day on which the attorney general makes the certification
17under sub. (1).
