well here is my 2 cents. I think it is OK for a kid to be with their parents in a bar for say something like lunch. When I was little my parents would meet at Charlie's place or the Wisconsin Club for lunch. If I was out of school I would go along. Several of my dad's co-workers would also be eating there as it was so close to their office.
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I never drank, there was never a problem with drunks, or fights, it was just a place to go eat lunch at. I did like the juke box and the video games and had lots of fun.
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I think eating at a bar say during the lunch hour time is way different than bringing your kids to sit with you while you get drunk.

Anybody remember the miniature bowling alley games they had in bars?? (Some still do, I think). Those were fun. Wish I was a kid again.

Hannah, Long time reader, first time writer. What is wrong with you? Seriously. I casually read this website almost everyday, and every story involving alcohol you put in your 2 cents. There's nothing wrong with that, but im just tring to figure out one thing. What made you the way that you are? What kind of socail life do you have? You make it seem like anyone who goes out to a bar is evil. Its called being socail. It's not like everyone that goes to bars leave hammered. And what is your vendetta with this news paper. If you dont like it and you feel like you need to try to correct the writers constantly, dont read it. There is nothing wrong with bringing an 18 year old to a bar as long as the parent is responsible. No kid is going to be that corrupted where they go to the bathroom and all of the sudden the're using drugs. Come on, get real. Most importantly, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!!!!!!!

If some parents weren't so stupid to allow their children to drink with them in a bar, a law like this would not be needed.

Hannah, I agree with you. My folks also took me to bars as a kid and it was not something I look back on with fondness. Just cigarette and alcohol stench. I suppose at the time, I thought it was cool, but there wasn't anything else I was being taught at the time. It's not an environment for anyone younger than 18.

OK Hannah If a bar is no place for anyone under 21 THEN A BATTLEFIELD IS NO PLACE FOR ANYONE UNDER 21 AS WELL!!!! IM SO SICK OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU THINKING YOU CAN LEGISLATE HUMAN BEHAVIOR. Teens have been drinking and will always be drinking regardless of some stupid law like this. I hardly have ever seen anyone under 18 drinking in bar anyways this is a non-issue. And while were at it lets make it 21 for everything including driving, voting, legal sufferage etc since people like you think thats some sort of magical number. The longer you treat adults like children the longer it will take for them to grow up. The US is the only major country with a drinking age set at 21 and it has done nothing to curb alcohol abuse.

There is absolutely NO reason why a child should be drinking alcohol period. Much less to be in a public place doing it. This is one law that has always bothered me. I have two friends who along with their parents would sit in the bars and get drunk. Both of my friends were alcoholics before they were 16.

When I was a child, my parents would take us children to bars and we would have the pleasure of watching our role models get drunk and at times beligerant. Kids have no place in a bar, and furthur more, I cannot believe that the state senate would lower the drinking age to 18 years old. I know kids can go to war at that age, but then there are those kids who now do alot of texting, and cell phone talking while driving, add drinking to that equation, and its a disaster waiting to happen. It just seems so inappropiate for parents to give their children this kind of direction. Look at Mr. Wood, isnt he a great role model.

The article says nothing about being served "alcohol". Maybe they'll go with mom and get a nice cool tall glass of orange juice or a root beer. C'mon junior lets go........

pete when joey goes down after getting in your face are you going to pay the bill at the ER. so my medical costs don't go up when it is not paid. IMO it is the parents business and not yours or the governments. Maybe joeys parents pay taxes there fore the bill is covered by them also.As I said kids under 18 should not be drinking but who is anyone to tell his/her parents they can't drink. And lately we have no choice in our lives as the government is becoming DICTATORSHIP not "the land of the free" as it once was and there is no constitutional laws for us anymore as it is now "probable cause" and the law can abuse any right we have. It is time for the people to read our constution and abide by its very purpose and give the people who legally live here back their rights.

The bill has broad support, including the "Tavern League." One of the "Ifs" in the law was "If the bartender is willing." Think about it.

The children are in for a life lesson here. Politicians do what they want to, not what you want them to (and that applies for those of us that actually vote and pay taxes).

Why do people think it's OK to drink at any age?
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2 reasons:
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They do anyway.
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They will later, and they might as well learn how alcohol shouldn't be an end to itself, but a part of a greater whole.
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As a substitute teacher, I've heard many students (yep, High School, all under 18) talk about how they were going to drink to get drunk, the cheapest swill they could find.
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That way is madness. We teach our kids how to drive, we teach our kids how to talk -- why not let parents teach their kids how to drink? Just a bit, for the taste, and _not_ to get drunk.
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And why let it just be restaurants? Why not restrict communion wine as well? We'll see how that goes over.
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Let's keep the sanity in alcohol in Wisconsin.

I do not agree with children drinking under age but it is not the governments right it is the parents and as far as 18 year olds drinking that should be legalized as they can serve in the military and die for our country be charged as adults at 17 they should at 18 be allowed to drink a beer if they choose. And just for a pondering thought, kids are going to drink regardless and the laws have not stopped them in my life time 55 plus years, so IMO leave it the way it is.

i have no problem taking a kid to a bar. i personally wouldnt let them drink until they are 18, i just think its funny that kids have someone watchin their back when it comes to consuming alcohol:)

Onelife2live- Its not you decision to tell me that I can't take my child to the bar. Its MY decision. Really why is a bar a bad thing? Have some of you ever been to one? Most of them are just fine. Many serve great food. Its not just about alcohol. How I raise my child is MY business, not anybody elses or the government. So what's next, you are going to tell me what he should wear?

The bill will pass. If you want to teach your children to drink responsibly, do it in your home. Personally why would you want to teach your kids to drink at all.

I don't think there should be an age limit at all. If you want to drink and get hammered, go ahead. If you get smashed with your kids that's up to you. I'm trying to earn a living here on Earth, and the more eager, sober people in the marketplace, the harder it is for me to make a buck. Ya, that's freedom. Free to earn a living, and free to screw up your life. I don't want my tax dollars going toward nanny police.

Just what we need, parent and kids getting drunk together in a bar and driving home. And you know it's going to happen in this state.

Wait, What?

Easy Kid ....

Why do people think it's OK to drink at any age?

REALLY??