In January, the Policy, Alternatives, Community and Education Project met to discuss initiatives for the upcoming year. Among the community-based objectives was to conduct rigorous ID checks during the sale of alcohol using electronic ID scanners as a means of curbing underage consumption of alcohol in Madison.
Recently, the Alcohol Policy Group - a branch of PACE comprised entirely of campus directors announced they will offer electronic ID scanners and training free of charge to bars and alcohol retailers in the density area. Funding for these scanners will come from university-appointed funds from the budgets of campus directors on the partnership council.
Although usage of these scanners will not be mandated by the city, the fact that UW-Madison will be funding this crackdown makes it appear as though they are accepting all the blame for underage consumption and alcohol-related incidents throughout the entire city of Madison.
Although it is a common problem, underage consumption is not reserved entirely to UW-Madison students, and funding this project should not come solely from university funds.
Further, the likelihood of these scanners actually preventing underage drinking is questionable. Richard Lyshek, owner of Ram Head, a bar on North Henry street, stated that these [scanners] do have a few major flaws to them,"" as worn out IDs would not scan correctly. If the ID appears valid, though, many small business owners are still likely to let the patron enter the establishment.
A system like this too flawed to serve it's intended purpose. Underage drinkers will find a way to doctor IDs to avoid this measure, which carries a rather hefty price tag when applied to multiple bars in Madison.
For what little money UW-Madison currently has to allocate funds toward combating underage drinking, they would be smarter to not only invest in a more adequate method, but one that addresses its internal problems before assisting the entire city in this fight.
Underage drinking occurs all over the campus. It happens in house parties, university housing - it is not restricted to bars in the downtown Madison area. Why should UW-Madison have to account for underage drinking from non-UW-Madison residents that frequent these bars?
The city of Madison, including Capitol Neighborhoods Inc., and residents of the downtown district should account for a portion of the cost of this measure. Students alone are not responsible for every problem that occurs in city bars near the UW-Madison campus.
