http://www.jtirregulars.com/2011/04/beer-brew-that-made-milwaukee-famous.html
JTI Special Correspondent Clint Teeters has looked further into this matter and has filed this report:
"I emailed the mayor and asked why the fundraiser was stopped at DP Wigley. City Administrator Tom Friedel replied:
Mr. Teeters,
Thank you for communicating with the city on this matter. The mayor asked me to respond on his behalf. In a separate email, I have contacted Mark Flynn of D. P. Wigley
Last Friday the City Clerk’s office received an anonymous report (with a flyer) that the Belle City Homebrewers were planning to offer free beer samples at D.P. Wigley during the First Friday event. We corresponded with the owners of the business, citing state statute 125.06, concerning home brewing.
125.06 License and permit exceptions. No license or permit is required under this chapter for:
(3) Homemade wine or fermented malt beverages.
The manufacture of wine or fermented malt beverages of any alcoholic content by any person at his or her home, farm or place of residence if the wine or fermented malt beverages is to be consumed by that person or his or her family and guests, and if the person manufacturing the wine or fermented malt beverages receives no compensation.
The key words here are, “to be consumed at his or her home, farm or place of residence”. Clearly the D.P. Wigley site does not fall under any of those categories for exception. We felt it was our obligation to inform the owners that a complaint was made and remind them of the law.
Mr. Flynn responded that we were making an incorrect interpretation of the law, so we contacted the state commerce department asking for advice on this particular situation. They responded that there were two additional statutes that governed this situation.
125.09 prohibits consumption in public places and 125.315 prohibits commercially giving it away. Unlicensed business cannot do either.
The statutes cited are state laws, not city policies. The city did not close down the event, but made the owners aware of the state law, so that if they were confronted by an officer attempting to enforce the law, they would not be surprised. When the city receives complaints from citizens it has an obligation to respond. We regret that this situation caused the Belle City Homebrewers to cancel their worthwhile event and that our call to them was given on short notice, but those circumstances were beyond our control.
In an effort to find a solution to what happened last Friday and for the Great Lakes Brewfest, we suggest that the club contact an elected state representative to ask for a change in the statutes that would accommodate events that clubs like yours would like to hold. Statute 125.51(10) allows for temporary licensing and could be modified to include home brewing clubs. The city would be happy to work with your organization to advance changes in this statute.
If you would like to discuss this further, please contact me directly,
Tom
Thomas Friedel
City Administrator
730 Washington Ave.
Racine, WI 53403
262-619-2540
"Yours truly, Clint Teeters."
Thank you JTI Special Correspondent Clint Teeters for your exhaustive investigation and extensive research into this story.
"125.09 prohibits consumption in public places" Does this mean the end of the 4th of July as we know it?
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3 comments:
As for "the 4th of July as we know It" I would suspect LOTS of laws are broken during that day. It just happens that the laws that apply are just not enforced, because apparently nobody complains officially? I guess I was correct, that some person that didn't like the competition complained to the city about the D.P. Wiggly situation, thus the CRAP that followed.
Regarding Friedel's response. It was actually quite a good response. They could have supplied one sentence. "someone complained officially" It was a good response.
Teeters! Haven't seen you around in ages! Welcome back!
Fridel did go to lengths to explain it. I'm sure they didn't want any more negative publicity.
However DP Wigley and the club handle it, I hope they give it another shot next time. At least they have the time to do it to the laws specifications and hopefully people will support them 100%. I'll buy at least one... if for no other reason than spite.
I agree... shitty, underhanded person whining that the micro brews would "hurt their business." Sounds exactly like the restaurateurs who complained about the hot dog guy.
Thanks for the update Orbs,
City Clerk’s office received an anonymous report (with a flyer).
I don’t believe, in cases such as this, the City would be in such a “hurry” to check into the situation. An anonymous report should be place on the pile of other complaints and taken care of in order as received! If it would have taken 5 or 6 days, so be it!
As far as I am concerned it had to be another business in the downtown area that made the ‘anonymous’ complaint, feeling they where going to lose business!
I wish I knew who it was because there is no way in hell I would patronize their business in the future!
Almost makes me want to buy a ½ barrel of beer, put in on a wagon with ice and walk around downtown giving away free beer!
What could they do to me; I didn’t make it in my basement, I’m not in a commercial building or a business. 125.09 prohibits consumption in public places and 125.315 prohibits commercially giving it away. Unlicensed business cannot do either., as long as I am not drinking in public places, I feel I would be doing nothing wrong!!!!!
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