If you said yes, today is your day – or rather, the near future might be your day. Maybe.

The Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate unanimously approved a bill last week to allow liquor and grocery stores to give away free three-ounce beer samples.,”

Who likes beer? Who likes getting free samples?

If you said yes, today is your day – or rather, the near future might be your day. Maybe.

The Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate unanimously approved a bill last week to allow liquor and grocery stores to give away free three-ounce beer samples. The bill still has to be approved by Gov. Jim Doyle before becoming law.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) in the Senate and Rep. Scott Newcomer (R-Hartland) in the Assembly.

Consumers have to be 21 to drink the samples, which aim to level the playing field between wine and beer.

"Wine distributors can offer samples of new brands of wine, but beer companies cannot do the same thing," said Rep. Jason Fields (D-Milwaukee).

Fields said the bill is also a way to support a hometown company, Miller Brewing Company. However, all brewing companies in the state could offer their free beer to open-minded and parched consumers.

"Miller has been a good company to Milwaukee," he said. "This puts ourselves in a position to talk to Miller about supporting the community."

It also gives brewers statewide the chance to test-market their beer.

"The beer industry has always been strong in Wisconsin," said Miller spokesman Pete Marino. "A lot of consumers are looking to sample beer and this would give them a chance to do so before they have to buy the beer."

Marino said Miller would contract with a third company that would check IDs to make sure potential imbibers are 21.

If passed by the governor, retailers would have the option of offering the samples in their stores.

According to Vivian King, spokeswoman for Roundy's Supermarkets Inc., which owns Pick 'n Save and Metro Market, Roundy's would give beer away only after the idea had been studied.

"We would need to work out the details to make sure it was safe and productive to everyone involved," she said. "We are looking at it though."

Roundy's owns 58 stores in the Milwaukee metropolitan area, including Racine and Kenosha, King said.

Brewers and legislators hope this bill will spur sales of beer for Milwaukee-area breweries.

"Milwaukee has been known as 'Brew City' but after losing Pabst, Blatz and Schlitz, legislators want to do what they can to help Miller," said Eugene Laczniak, professor of marketing at Marquette. "They don't want to see them fall flat on their face."

Laczniak said beer sales have been flat across the industry while wine and distilled liquor sales have been rising.

"Mainstream beer sales have been declining, and the only thing keeping beer sales flat are the boutique and imported beers," he said. "This bill would allow a large company like Miller to market distinct-tasting beers."

Once people try a new type of beer, studies show they are more likely to buy a six-pack, Laczniak said.

Giving away free beer sounds like a scary endeavor, but legislators are not worried because the beer will be distributed in small amounts.

"There was no upheaval about the issue in the Assembly because only three ounces were being given away," Fields said.

Fields said there had never been a problem with people overconsuming wine at grocery stores.

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