Janesville police ask bars not to serve problem drinkers who cost city money, officers' time

JANESVILLE, Wis. — Janesville police have asked bar owners not to serve alcohol to 10 people who require emergency services more often than most residents.

Police say the list is modeled on rules in other Wisconsin communities. Those listed have had three run-ins with police in the past six months, including trips to jail or detox and less formal interventions, such as an officer driving someone home.

Police officer Joe McNally told the Janesville Gazette that all those interactions cost the city. For example, a trip to detox runs about $400, plus the time for an officer to take someone there and the time for a doctor to clear that person.

People placed on the list can appeal to the city Alcohol License Advisory Committee.

McNally said adherence the list is voluntary, and there are no penalties for bars that serve someone on it. But he said bars who repeatedly serve alcohol to problem drinkers could have their cases sent to the alcohol licensing committee.

Wiggy's Saloon owner Patrick Wygans said bar owners probably already know who the problem drinkers are and the new policy could help them.

"It will keep troublemakers out of your bar," Wygans said.

McNally said the list will be reviewed every six months, and people will be taken off if they have less than three contacts with police during that time.

"If they continue to drink responsibly, we don't have any problem with that," he said.

Sharen Hoskins, who owns East Point Sportz Pub and is president of the Rock County Tavern League, said her organization worked with police to make sure the policy wouldn't be too hard to enforce. She said the list would probably supplement bars' own no-serve lists of people kicked out for bad behavior.