Springing ahead March 11 for daylight-saving will not shut down taps at Wisconsin bars.
A bill passed Tuesday by the state Legislature will allow bars to serve alcohol until 3:30 a.m., rather that closing at 2 a.m. when clocks advance one hour.
Existing state law requires bars to close at 2:30 a.m. on weekends, meaning without the bill, bars would either lose 30 minutes of business on March 11 or face a possible license revocation for filling cups a half-hour past bar time.
State Sen. Roger Breske, D-Eland, introduced Senate Bill 52 in response to a new federal law moving daylight-savings time from the first Sunday in April to March 11.
Proponents of the bill say it will help Wisconsin bars earn more revenue and protect them from fines. However, Jay Wanserski, owner of Wando's said losing a half hour of business would not significantly impact overall revenue.
""Definitely closing an hour early would affect our business, but we do make it up with the daylight-saving in the fall, getting me an extra hour during football season,"" he said.
Wanserski said Wando's would keep alcohol and business flowing as usual with ""the same amount of security on that night and the same amount of bartenders.""
On the other hand, opponents of the bill say extending bar time opens up more potential for dangers associated with alcohol consumption.
""Whenever you extend the hours of operation, you increase the risks involved with it,"" said Kari Kinnard, state executive director for the Wisconsin branch of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
""The state Legislature could be saving lives with Legislation, but instead they are taking on legislation to increase bar time.""
UW-Madison junior Katie Stern said the later bar time could attract greater crowds similar to but not as crazy as Halloween 2006, when bars set clocks back one hour.
""Maybe more people would go out because it's later,"" Stern Said. ""But it's not crazy like Halloween,"" she said.
The bill met no opposition at the Senate hearing and received support from the state's Tavern League. Bill supporters hope to secure the signature of Gov. Jim Doyle before March 11, though he has not yet issued a formal statement on the law.
