Popular Wisconsin Bar May Now Lose License For Underage Drinking

The legal drinking age is now 21 in every state, but that wasn't always the case. Until 1984, the legal drinking age varied by state, with some states setting it at 18, 19, or 20. 

The legal drinking age in Wisconsin was 18 years old from 1972 until 1984. This was due to the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18 in 1971.

The Federal Uniform Drinking Age Act of 1984 changed everything by setting the minimum legal drinking age to 21 for all 50 states. According to the CDC, this was done to reduce underage drinking, reduce drinking and driving incidents, reduce alcohol-related crashes and injuries, save lives, and improve health.

Despite that policy being set over 40 years ago, underage drinking still occurs at bars and restaurants, many times due to underage drinkers having fake IDs and bars. However, it sometimes happens because an establishment fails to do its due diligence to prevent people under 21 from being served.

That behavior from bar owners can lead to severe consequences, such as the revocation of its liquor license, and that is the consequence one popular college bar in Wisconsin could be facing soon.

Downtown La Crosse Bar Faces Possible Liquor License Revocation

According to multiple sources, the City of La Crosse is looking to revoke the liquor license of a downtown bar. According to police, the bar is blatantly violating the city’s alcohol licensing laws by allowing in and serving underage people at the bar.

Get our free mobile app

WKBT-TV in La Crosse reports that Latino Bar and Grill on 115 5th Avenue South is cited in a complaint for violating multiple La Crosse Municipal Codes, including selling alcohol to underage persons, encouraging or contributing to underage presence, maintaining a disorderly house by facilitating underage drinking and overserving, and more.

Police are on record saying that it’s known among college students as a “freshman bar” and that its patrons are “almost exclusively underage.” Local police have been called to the bar over 120 times since it opened in 2022.

The problem has continued despite La Crosse police repeatedly having multiple conversations and training efforts with restaurant staff to prevent it.

SEE NOW: Wisconsin Authorities Warning Residents Of New Property Scam

What Happens Next

On Wednesday, February 19, the Judiciary and Administration Committee is holding a special meeting to decide if Latino Bar and Grill can keep its liquor license. That decision could lead to another special meeting of the full common council on Thursday, February 20, and the official revocation of the liquor license.