Conservative Legal Organization Plans to File Lawsuit Regarding New Alcohol Regulations

Sunday, December 10th, 2023 -- 10:00 AM

(Rich Kremer, Wisconsin Public Radio) A conservative legal organization says it will file a lawsuit challenging a sweeping overhaul of state alcohol regulations that was signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers this week.

According to Rich Kremer with the Wisconsin Public Radio, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, or WILL, said it has been talking with wedding barn owners who claim they're being forced out of business by the changes.

The liquor law signed by Evers on Wednesday creates a new Department of Revenue division to enforce violations. It expands retail options for breweries, wineries and distilleries and clarifies the definition of "public spaces" prohibited from selling alcohol without a permit.

Under the new law, the definition includes spaces that are available to rent for social gatherings, like wedding barns, but excludes hotel rooms, vacation rental properties, campsites and tailgating space at sports facilities. Before the change, wedding barns had been considered private venues.

The legislation garnered support from groups ranging from the state's Tavern League to craft brewers and distributors, who argue the changes modernize archaic alcohol regulations and put everyone on an even playing field.

But Jean Bahn of the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association argues lawmakers made a conscious decision to provide exemptions for some public places and not others when it comes to alcohol consumption. She thinks it was aimed at limiting competition from wedding barns like the one she owns.

"I just feel like that's a big change to be going from a private property with private events and renting space to suddenly becoming a public place," Bahn said. Under the new law, wedding barn owners have two options. They can get a new "no sale event venue" permit or obtain a liquor license.

The no-sale permit would allow patrons to provide their own alcohol as they have in the past, but the venue would only be allowed to operate once a month with a maximum of six events per year.

If wedding barn owners opt for a liquor license instead, it would allow them to sell alcohol at their venues as often as they'd like. Bahn said she plans to opt for the no sale permit rather than figure out how being licensed to sell alcohol might affect her local zoning permit and insurance.

Her organization has been in talks with the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty about legal options.

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