Boutiques can’t use alcohol to attract customers says DOR

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The good times may be over at Wisconsin’s boutiques – or at least the bubbly times.

The state Revenue Department now says it’s illegal for businesses to use booze to attract customers. The fine is up to $10,000.

It’s been a trend in recent years for the most fashionable of fashion shops to offer things like a champagne brunch, which Milwaukee’s Fred boutique had on Black Friday.

Somebody complained to the state Revenue Department last month about free cocktails at a shop in Wauwatosa and now the government is cracking down

Jessica Iverson of the Revenue Department says only licensed bars can serve alcohol to customers. She says it’s OK for stores to hold private parties. But once business is done, she says those parties become public.

Some store owners said they knew about the law. Some didn’t. And others said it was ambiguous.

One shop owner said he locked the doors for his private customer party but he then got in trouble with the fire marshal, who told him to keep the doors open.

Tags: wisconsin news, boutiques, alcohol, customers