You can now buy alcohol at liquor, grocery and other “off-premise” South Milwaukee retailers starting at 6 a.m. — two hours earlier than you could before.
The City Council approved the change at its Dec. 20 meeting, aligning our start time with a new state law that took effect in late December.
Communities could enact ordinances more restrictive than state law, and some have decided to keep their 8 a.m. starting times.
Our vote was 7-1, with all but Alderman Craig Maass voting in favor of the ordinance change.
I voted yes because it could help local business, boosting sales with, among others, third-shift workers looking to purchase beer on their way home from work.
I also don’t see harm arising from the increased hours. In my mind, there is no significant difference between allowing sales at 6 a.m. or 8 a.m. — and in cases like that I will generally side with local business.
Keep in mind that off-premise retailers can still only sell alcohol until 9 p.m. each night in South Milwaukee. That does not change. This is stricter than state law, which allows for the off-premise sale of beer until midnight.
South Milwaukee Blog 