Powers and duties of division
Wis. Stat. § 125.025
in effect(1) Administration; personnel.
(a) The division, under the direction and supervision of the administrator, shall administer this chapter and have jurisdiction over alcohol beverages regulation, enforcement, and education in this state. The division is responsible for administering regulatory programs; promoting regulatory transparency; promoting statutory changes to create clarity, consistency, and simplicity in alcohol beverage regulatory requirements; and ensuring active, consistent enforcement of alcohol beverage laws.
(b) The administrator may appoint, in the classified service, special agents and other employees necessary to carry out the permitting, audit, legal, education, and enforcement functions of the division. The division shall employ no fewer than 10 alcohol beverage field agents to perform enforcement activities under the direction of the director of the bureau created under s. 15.433 (2) (b) dedicated to enforcement.
(c) The administrator and any employee of the division may not be employed by or have a substantial financial interest in the alcohol beverages industry or any business subject to the division’s jurisdiction.
(2) Police powers. The division shall enforce, and the duly authorized employees of the division shall have all necessary police powers to prevent violations of, this chapter.
(3) Inspection for enforcement. Duly authorized employees of the department of justice and the division and any sheriff, police officer, marshal, or constable, within their respective jurisdictions, may, during normal business hours, enter any licensed premises, and examine the books, papers, and records of any brewer, brewpub, manufacturer, rectifier, wholesaler, retailer, fulfillment house, or common carrier and may inspect and examine, according to law, any premises where fermented malt beverages or intoxicating liquors are manufactured, sold, exposed for sale, possessed, or stored, for the purpose of inspecting the same and determining whether this chapter is being complied with. Any refusal to permit such examination of such premises is sufficient grounds under s. 125.12 for revocation or suspension of any license or permit issued under this chapter and is punishable under s. 125.11 (3).
(4) List of permittees. The division shall provide the department with all information necessary for the department to publish the information specified in s. 139.11 (4) (a) 2. and (b) 2.
(5) Fees. Except as provided in ss. 125.28 (4) and 125.535 (2), all fees collected by the division in connection with permits issued under this chapter shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.566 (9) (g).
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/125.025Fetched: 10/7/2026