Looking to take further measures against excessive alcohol consumption among University of Wisconsin- Madison students, one member of the Madison City Council is pushing forward a proposal to register all cans and bottles sold within the city limits. Alderman Paul Skidmore, District 9, the author of a similar proposal to register keg purchases, believes that this is the next logical step in the fight against what he sees as irresponsible student behavior on the UW campus.
'If the council moves forward on my keg registration proposal, it is necessary that they also act to restrict the purchase of other alcoholic containers,' said Skidmore.
The far West-side alderman, with no jurisdiction over the campus area nor the geographic proximity to be affected by such a measure, is pushing forward a controversial proposition to 'require all purchases of alcohol in cans, cups, bottles, boxes, bags and/or jugs' be registered before the purchaser 'leaves an alcohol distributing facility; for example liquor store, stadium vendor, bar or mini-fridge at friends' houses.'
The purpose of such a measure is to carefully track any movement of alcohol in Madison in order to ensure that every drop of it is drank in a responsible manner. Proponents of Skidmore's actions, including the university and the Policy Alternatives Community Education (PACE) organization, say that it will help keep house parties under control and reduce crime associated with alcohol consumption. Critics argue that the proposal is unfairly directed at college students, puts too great a restriction on local businesses and takes all the fun out of drinking booze.
'These types of measures are totally out-of-hand and overly draconian,' said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, whose district might be more in tune to having actual college students living in and around it. 'I bet these sorts of laws come from certain individuals that never got invited to any parties in college and want to make sure everyone shares in the misery they experienced decades ago. I'm just guessing...'
'Too many beer cans and the like are ending up in the hands of minors or irresponsible individuals,' Skidmore said. 'Anyone can just hand 20 bucks to an older sibling or a homeless person and get alcohol. Only by tracking the movement of every sip of alcohol in this city can we bring this problem to an end.'
The university and PACE have aggressively backed the alderman's movements. Chancellor John Wiley, a long-time proponent of aggressive action in this matter, called the proposal a 'step in the right direction,' while PACE Coordinator/Booze Nazi Susan Crowley said that she wished that Skidmore push farther.
'It is time that students at Madison own up and admit that as a campus they are addicted to alcohol,' Crowley said. 'Having never been to a so-called 'house party' I naturally assume that they are a scab on collegiate society, having no value what-so-ever.'
Not surprisingly, student reaction to Ald. Skidmore's proposal was negative. At one local gathering of college students, certainly not a house party, their opinion was unanimous:
'Alcohol!' said one inebriated individual as a chorus of fellow drinkers responded, 'The cause of, and solution to, all of our problems!'
