2011 Wisconsin Act 97 amends Wis. Stat. § 125.32 (3)(b) to allow Class “A” premises to begin selling alcohol at 6 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. The act also amends Wis. Stat. § 125.68 (4)(b) to allow municipalities to impose by ordinance more restrictive hours than those under § 125.32 (3)(b).
This act is seen as controversial, because of the questionable economic justification behind the earlier sell time. The Wisconsin State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SCAODA) sent a letter to Governor Scott Walker urging him not to authorize this law. In the letter, SCAODA points out that Wisconsin has the highest rate of alcohol availability in the nation, ranks among the highest in the country in problem drinking, and is the number one in self-reported driving under the influence. SCAODA argues there is no need for more alcohol accessibility.
