Students Sue Bars for Price Fixing

Mar 24, 2004 - Madison, WI

A class action lawsuit was filed in Dane County Circuit Court accusing 24 downtown Madison taverns and the Madison-Dane County Tavern League of conspiring to fix prices on beer and liquor.

The suit, filed by a Minneapolis law firm on behalf of three University of Wisconsin-Madison students, says taverns that agreed to eliminate weekend drink specials -- a step strongly urged by Chancellor John Wiley -- committed felony violations of both state and federal antitrust law, regardless of their intent. It also accuses UW-Madison of participating.

UW-Madison students Nic Eichenseer, Brian Dougherty and Eric Stener are listed as lead plaintiffs in the class action. All three said in the suit they purchased alcoholic beverages on Friday or Saturday after 8 p.m. from the taverns named in the suit.

The taverns named in the suit are Amy's Cafe, Angelic Brewing Co., Brothers, Buffalo Wild Wings, Bull Feathers, City Bar, Club Amazon, Kollege Klub, Lava Lounge, Mad Dogs Pub & Pizzeria, Madhatters, Mondays, the Nitty Gritty, Paul's Club, Plaza Tavern, The Pub, Red Shed, Spices Restaurante, State Bar, State Street Brats, Stillwaters, Vintage, Wandos and Irish Pub.

May 6, 2008 - Madison, WI

Downtown bar owners 'very happy' over drink special ruling. The Wisconsin Supreme Court finding their voluntarily ban on weekend drink specials didn't violate anti-trust law.

Twenty-four bars spent in excess of $500,000 in legal fees to defend a class-action suit filed in Dane County Circuit Court in 2004 on behalf of University of Wisconsin students, said Scott Stenger, spokesman for the Wisconsin Tavern League.

Ald. Tim Bruer pressured bars to end happy hour pricing in an effort to curb binge drinking.