Madison — Underage drinkers would have to be at least 18 if they want to imbibe with their parents in Wisconsin taverns, under a bill proponents say would help discourage drinking by teens.

Under current law, minors of any age are allowed to consume alcohol in a licensed tavern, restaurant or other licensed premise if they're accompanied by a parent, guardian or spouse who has reached the legal drinking age of 21.

But the bill considered Wednesday by the Senate's Committee on Children and Families and Workforce Development would require that children who drink with parents and guardians at taverns or restaurants be at least 18.

Wisconsin has the highest alcohol use among high school students in the country, as well as the highest rates of alcohol consumption, binge drinking and heavy drinking, according to the AWARE Coalition, a group of about 50 health and medical, law enforcement and insurance groups pushing for a stronger response to alcohol abuse in Wisconsin.

"This bill will not solve all of our state's problems with alcohol, but it certainly will help reduce some of the problems," bill author Sen. Judy Robson (D-Beloit) said at the hearing. "Drinking at a young age can shape a person's drinking patterns for a lifetime."

Many who spoke in support of the measure said it didn't go far enough, arguing that taverns and restaurants shouldn't serve anyone younger than age 21.

Despite the perception it is a widespread practice, it's rare for taverns to serve alcohol to minors, said Scott Stenger, lobbyist for the Tavern League of Wisconsin, which supports the bill.

"We're not interested in having customers who are under 18," Stenger said.

There is more Capitol activity than ever on drunken driving and related issues in the wake of the Journal Sentinel's "Wasted in Wisconsin" series that reported on the statewide toll of drunken driving, and other news stories. Drunken driving is expected to be a primary focus for the fall legislative session.

Gov. Jim Doyle, who supports several changes to laws to curb drunken driving, said he would consider the bill once he sees language that lawmakers send to him. But he said he doesn't believe it's as necessary as some other changes lawmakers have proposed, such as making third-offense drunken driving a felony.

"I don't see this nearly at the same kind of level as the drunk driving laws we're talking about," Doyle said.

Edgerton Mayor Erik Thompson has urged lawmakers to change the law after a New York Times story last year highlighted examples of young people being served alcohol at a bar in his city, Robson said.

Julie Coquard, vice president of Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac, provided the only opposition to the bill. She said parents who bring children on winery tours have the option of allowing their kids to taste wine out of their parents' glasses.

"The intent of the proposal may have been to deter parents who make bad choices, but it doesn't allow parents to educate their kids in a responsible way," Coquard said.

The part of the brain that controls judgment isn't well-developed in teens, which means they aren't as well-equipped as adults to make good decisions, practice self-control and weigh the consequences of their actions, Paul Grossberg, a pediatrician at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, told the committee.

"Having your parents say it's OK for you to drink in a tavern at age 15 isn't OK because your brain isn't really ready for it," testified Michael Miller, medical director of NewStart, a drug and alcohol treatment program at Madison's Meriter Hospital. "Kids who drink don't drink like adults who drink."

Tom Farley, brother of late comedian Chris Farley, said the proposal is flawed.

"It will be nothing that we in Wisconsin should be particularly proud of," said Farley, who heads the Chris Farley Foundation, which works to prevent substance abuse. "Wisconsin will still be left with a law that fails to protect the health and safety of our youth population."

The committee is expected to vote on whether to advance the measure to the full Senate on Sept. 9. An Assembly committee will hold a hearing on a similar version of the measure next week.