DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) – A state legislator is circulating a bill that would ‘close the social host loophole.’
During a Monday morning press conference at St. Norbert College, Representative Andre Jacque said his legislation would allow law enforcement to issue citations to more people who host underage drinking parties.
Currently, the De Pere Republican says people can only be cited for hosting the legal activity if it is taking place on a licensed alcohol premises, even though the law prohibits adults from allowing minors to drink at a location they own or control.
Jacque says that is due to multiple court interpretations that have ‘created and expanded’ that loophole. He notes it was “essentially an oversight” as judges were reading the law as written.
In addition to helping officers do their job, Jacque says the legislation aims to reduce underage drinking. He points to statistics that show Wisconsin has the nation’s highest rates of underage drinking, binge drinking, and drunk driving.
According to Jacque, a lot of those problems start before people can legally drink.
Jacque says Madison lawmakers could still vote on the measure during the current session.
