Wisconsin's laws and statutes outline who can consume and serve alcohol as well as where alcohol can be consumed and sold. This includes underage drinking with your parents, intoxication in public, drinking on boats, and more.

Drinking Age and Drinking with Parents in Wisconsin

Wisconsin is known for its friendly bars and great breweries. Like all other states in the country, Wisconsin’s legal drinking age is 21. However, in Wisconsin, individuals under the age of 21 may be served and consume alcohol if they are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or spouse who has attained the legal drinking age.

That means a restaurant is allowed to serve alcohol to an 18-year-old if they are eating dinner with their mom or dad. This law also applies to drinking at home or in bars. However, establishments like bars and restaurants do not have to someone under 21—that is up to the discretion of the owner.

Wisconsin Underage Drinking Laws

Minors in Wisconsin who are drinking without a parent or guardian may be issued a civil citation for underaged drinkingcivil citation for underaged drinking. The good news is that this ticket is a civil penalty, not a criminal penalty, and carries only a fine. However, a minor may have to disclose the citation on school or job applications if specifically asked if they have ever been convicted of a citation or civil offense.

Keep in mind a minor must be completely sober to operate a vehicle in the state of Wisconsin. So even though a minor could have a drink with a parent, they cannot drive until the alcohol is completely out of their system.

Open Alcohol Containers in Cars

It is illegal to have an open alcoholic container in your vehicle while driving. Open alcohol containers must be transported in the trunk or, if the car does not have a trunk, out of reach of the driver and passengers. Notably, the glove compartment and the center console are not considered “out of reach.”

Drivers (or passengers) with open containers in a vehicle may be issued a ticket and a fine. The only exception to the open container law is chauffeured buses or limousines.