Bill SF0137, HF0184

Author
Keeli Meyer
Winona Area Public Schools
Senate

Essay

Pro-con Essay

The enactment of the HF 3777 bill by Tim O’Driscoll would lower the ability to serve alcohol from 18 years old to 17 years old. This would lessen restrictions for businesses like restaurants and bars that serve alcohol beverages. This change would make it easier for these businesses to sell and serve alcohol because more employees would be eligible to do so. Only allowing those 18 and older to handle alcohol lessens productivity of the business and job opportunities for those under 18. Businesses have to be strategic when scheduling employees when they have some above 18 and some below.They must think about having at least one 18+ employee working at all times to take care of alcohol orders. This puts more work and responsibility on that one 18+ worker on the clock when it could be dispersed to a 17 year old who is on the clock. Many can argue the difference between the maturity of a 17 year old and 18 year old is not drastic and allowing 17 year olds to serve alcohol would overall benefit businesses and employees. Lastly, when 17 year olds apply for jobs they are often denied because they would rather hire those 18+ who are able to serve. This makes it hard for those who are 17 to get jobs. By lowering the serving age it would open up more jobs to 17 year olds. There have already been movements to lower the serving age. Nine states have already introduced lowering the serving age and seven have already passed it. In our neighborhood state, Wisconsin, they are striving to lower the age to 14 years old. In West Virginia they already allow 16 year olds to serve alcohol and work as a bartender. By passing this bill we would be following the shift that is already occurring in states.

Lowering the serving age may put young workers in dangerous environments and around unsafe people. The settings of where alcohol is served like restaurants, bars, pubs, and festivals, are not always safe environments. Having 17 years old work in these places may be putting them in dangerous situations and having to be surrounded by unsafe customers. The restaurant industry is already known for having an increased number of Child Labor Law violations. Lowering the age would only increase the likelihood of more violations to occur. Lowering the age to 17 could increase youth exposure to alcohol and may increase youth partacting in alcohol themselves. The increased exposure would further normalize adolescents to be around alcohol. The difference between a 17 year old and 18 year old is that a 17 year old is still a minor and not an independent. This could be considered too large of a jump to allow a minor to serve alcohol.