Madison Ald. Mike Verveer’s proposal to restrict sales of cheap alcohol downtown is sound public policy that should have an immediate positive impact on a challenge that local officials have struggled to address.
Public intoxication is a problem. It is fueled by sales of individual cans and bottles of beer and malt liquor and small containers (less than a pint) of hard liquor.
Verveer, who represents the downtown 4th District, has proposed a ban on such sales at 11 outlets in the 4th and 8th aldermanic districts.