Opinion

Kids’ kegs

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We have long lamented the city’s misguided policy of cracking down on bars while ignoring the dangerous binge drinking occurring at house parties. Misguided policies, such as the proposed drink-special ban, gave the impression that the city is more interested in prohibition than protection.

The fundamental problem with these proposals was a refusal to accept the fact that students are going to drink. The key is to ensure students drink responsibly.

That is why we have suggested the university and city work to move student drinkers into regulated environments like unions and bars, where they can drink under the watchful eye of sober professionals. After all, bartenders and bouncers have a vested interest in maintaining a safe environment ? fines and closure are the alternative.

Fortunately, there is some hope city officials may be coming around to our point of view and slowly shifting their anti-alcohol energy from bars to house parties.

Specifically, Ald. Tim Bruer, District 14, this week proposed mandatory keg registration in Madison. Mandatory keg registration would bring much needed accountability and oversight to unregulated house parties.

As things currently stand, obtaining several kegs for a house party is a trivial feat. More importantly, if the party gets out of control and someone gets hurt, nobody is responsible or liable because it is impossible to determine who provided the alcohol.

Keg registration seems an obvious first step toward introducing responsibility and forethought to house parties. Those providing binge drinkers with alcohol would bear the responsibility of maintaining a safe and controlled atmosphere. Or better yet, keg registration could encourage self-made bartenders to leave the selling and responsibility of alcohol to the professionals.

Drinking is not the problem — irresponsible drinking is. Introducing responsibility should be the priority, and keg registration does just that.