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Public Testimony to City of Madison Alcohol License Review Committee Sept. 20, 2006 Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment on the proposed alcohol license density plan. Easy access and the cheap availability of alcohol continue to contribute to crime in the downtown area and the endangerment of the health and safety of UW-Madison students and others. Controlling access, whether it is at a licensed establishment, a retail outlet or an unlicensed tavern at a house party should be a community priority. Limiting the number of alcohol licenses is an important first step in reducing the excessive availability of alcohol in the downtown area. Generally, the targeted area included in the proposed plan is consistent with the data the PACE project has observed; namely, concentration of alcohol-related crime corresponds to high density concentrations of alcohol establishments. In its current form, the density plan is simple and easy to understand. I urge you to keep the plan simple and not dilute its intent with exceptions to the basic proposal. The primary goal of the plan should be the reduction of both the number of downtown tavern establishments and the overall capacity. This past year has been a challenging one for the UW-Madison campus. Last year we had a record number of alcohol overdoses that required transport to the county detox facility. While personal responsibility is an important aspect of reducing overconsumption, we as a community have a responsibility to create an environment that does not promote excessive drinking. Successful strategies must include efforts to reduce access to alcohol. The consequences of dangerous drinking are affecting all of us who live in the City of Madison. In addition to implementing a license density plan, I urge you to consider adopting other effective strategies to reduce easy access and availability. These include utilization of electronic ID scanners, responsible beverage server training, keg registration and limiting the discounting of drinks. There are many lessons we can learn from other college campus communities who have successfully implemented these strategies and improved the quality of life for all citizens in their communities. Susan Crowley, Director
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To get involved
with the PACE Project, contact us at pace@news.wisc.edu. |
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