When a 15-year-old comes into Wile-e\u2019s bar looking for a cold beer, the bartender, Mike Whaley, is happy to serve it up \u201d\u201d as long as a parent is there to give permission.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they\u2019re 15, 16, 17, it\u2019s fine if they want to sit down and have a few beers,\u201d\u009d said Mr. Whaley, who owns the tavern in this small town in southern Wisconsin.<\/p>\n
While it might raise some eyebrows in most of America, it is perfectly legal in Wisconsin. Minors can drink alcohol in a bar or restaurant in Wisconsin if they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who gives consent. While there is no state law setting a minimum age, bartenders can use their discretion in deciding whom to serve.<\/p>\n
When it comes to drinking, it seems, no state keeps pace with Wisconsin. This state, long famous for its breweries, has led the nation in binge drinking in every year since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began its surveys on the problem more than a decade ago. Binge drinking is defined as five drinks in a sitting for a man, four for a woman.<\/p>\n