A new Wisconsin law (Assembly Bill 63) will not change the hours people can legally buy beer, wine or liquor in Madison.

That's because state lawmakers have seen fit to allow local municipalities the ability to impose more restrictive "closing hours" by ordinance.

Under AB 63, Class A license holders can sell beer from 6:00 a.m. until midnight, and intoxicating liquor from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Class A license holders are people who sell packaged beer, wine, and liquor for consumption elsewhere.

Madison's ordinance allows liquor store owners and other Class A license holders to sell alcohol from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Under the city ordinance, there is no differentiation between beer, wine and intoxicating liquor in terms of "closing hours."