The recent City Council passage of the nightclub ordinance and the expected passage this spring of the performing arts venue license is a welcome step forward for a Madison bar scene weary of setbacks. The upcoming rules will allow local bars holding a license to permit dancing and also let 18- to 20-year-olds inside by differentiating between underage and of-age patrons provided live entertainment is present.

Providing students under the age of 21 with a supervised place to party is a win-win situation. Not only will underage University of Wisconsin students have more options on the weekends, the allure of house parties — and the problems often associated with environments rife with unregulated binge-drinking — will logically be diminished. Increased patron attendance due to underagers’ ability to enter bars could provide an additional boon to area business. Moreover, the new ordinances will prompt local bar owners to book live music acts, a step sorely need in Madison.

And in light of past clashes between Policy Alternatives Community Education and city establishment owners concerning alcohol regulations on campus, support the two new regulations have garnered from both sides of the issue is encouraging. City Council members, the Madison Police Department, PACE, area bars and most students have all responded to the proposals with enthusiasm. Indeed, this rare consensus concerning the weekend partying and drinking habits of UW students is an encouraging change from the usual struggle to reach a compromise on the matter.

–For more information, see page 1A