GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A Green Bay alderman wants to put in an ordinance requiring bartenders and servers to be sober while on the job, but some business owners say they should be the ones deciding that.
Four years ago, Bourbon Street Bar Owner Sue Robinson decided she no longer wanted her employees to drink while on the job.
“I need them on their toes, making sure they make correct change, money is going in the till where it is supposed to and things like that,” said Robinson.
While Robinson says the change has helped her business, she tells FOX 11 there’s no need to making sober servers a requirement.
“If I’m sitting on the other side of the bar having a couple drinks or another off duty bartender is having a couple drinks and our bartender needs help, we should be able to get up and help them without worrying about getting in trouble or something.”
“We’re one of the drunkest cities in the nation, so we should start looking at what we can do to address that,” said Green Bay Alderman Randy Scannell.
Scannell tells FOX 11 he believes a step in the right direction would be to fine any on-duty bartender or server who is caught drinking.
“They need to be keeping an eye out for how much they are serving others to keep tabs on that and control of that. If people are getting a little rowdy they need to be in control of that. They need to be able to get a hold of police and everything.”
Scannell says police currently recommend to new businesses that employees should stay sober while working.
If Green Bay moves forward with a policy, a decision must be made whether a violation would result in a fine for the bartender, the owner, or both. It varies by municipality.
For example, Neenah has a policy where only the bartender is fined. In La Crosse, a violation could result in both the bartender and owner getting in trouble.
“I can’t be here every minute that I’m open, so if I do hire somebody new and they decide to sneak a couple drinks, I don’t feel I should be ticketed for that,” said Robinson.
Green Bay’s Protection and Policy Committee is scheduled to discuss the sober server proposal at its meeting next Monday.
