How Old Do You Have to Be to Bartend? Age Requirements

If you’re considering a career in bartending, one of the first questions you might have is, “How old do you have to be to bartend?” Indeed, this is a common query, especially among younger individuals eager to enter the hospitality industry. Notably, the age requirement to become a bartender varies by state and sometimes by local laws within those states. Therefore, this article will provide a comprehensive overview of the age requirements for bartenders across the United States.

General Age Requirements for Bartenders

In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21, and this is a standard baseline for bartenders as well. However, the actual age requirement to serve alcohol as a bartender can vary significantly depending on state laws.

In several states, individuals who are 18 years old can serve alcohol in various settings, such as restaurants and bars, even though they may not be allowed to consume alcohol themselves. For example, states like Texas, Florida, California and New York allow 18-year-olds to serve alcohol under specific conditions. Generally, these conditions require supervision by someone over 21 and mandate working in a food-serving establishment as the primary business. Additionally, most states do not allow bartenders under 18 years of age to serve at nightclubs or bars without significant food sales.

Can you be a Bartender at 18?

In the United States, the legal age to serve alcohol varies significantly by state. Moreover, there are diverse local regulations and cultural attitudes toward alcohol consumption. Furthermore, many states permit individuals to become bartenders at 18 years of age. Particularly where local laws support training and early career opportunities within the hospitality industry. However, these opportunities often come with specific restrictions to ensure responsible alcohol service.

Minimum Age to bartend by State

State	Minimum Age to Serve	Minimum Age to Bartend	Additional Considerations
Alabama	19	21	19+ only in restaurants Code of Alabama Intoxicating Liquour Title 28
Alaska	21	21	Alaska Rules of Minor Offense Procedure Legislature 165
Arizona	18	18	Arizona Statutes Unlawful Acts 4-244
Arkansas	19	21	Arkansas Code 3-3-204 Handling by Minor
California	18	21	18+ only in an eating place, with alcohol being incidental California Code Business and Professions 25663
Colorado	18	18	18+ must be supervised Colorado Liquor Code 44-3-901
Connecticut	18	18	Connecticut Intoxicating Liquors Employment of Minors Title 30 – Chapter 545
Delaware	18	21	Delaware Code General Establishment Employment Title 4 – 1200
District of Columbia	18	21	Code of the District of Columbia – Sale or distribution of beverages by minor prohibited 25-784
Florida	18	18	Only for off premises Florida Beverage Law: Enforcement Statutes 562.13
Georgia	18	18	Georgia Subject 560 Retailer/Retail Consumption Dealer – 2 – 3
Hawaii	18	18	Requires proper supervision Hawaii Liquor Laws Section 281-78
Idaho	19	19	Idaho Retail Sale of Liquor By The Drink Title 23 Chapter 9 – 23-943
Illinois	18	18	Illinois Liquor Control Commission Title 11 Section 100.20
Indiana	19	21	Indiana Code Employment of Minors 7.1-5-7-13
Iowa	18	18	Iowa Admin Code 185-4.25 – Age requirements
Kansas	18	21	Kansas Statutes 41-2610. Unlawful Acts of Licensee – Employment Restrictions
Kentucky	18	21	Kentucky Revised Statutes Alcoholic Beverages – prohibitions, restrictions, and regulations 244.090
Louisiana	18	18	Louisiana Revised Statutes Titlt 26 – 90. Acts prohibited on licensed premises; suspension or revocation of permits
Maine	17	17	Maine Title 28 Part 3 Chapter 29 – 704 Employment of Minors
Maryland	18	18	Maryland Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Statutes 3 – 503
Massachusetts	18	18	Massachusetts Section 34 – Employment of Persons under Eighteen Years of Age
Michigan	17	17	Michigan Liquor Control – 436.1707 Selling, serving, or furnishing alcohol; prohibitions
Minnesota	18	18	Minnesota statutes 340A.412 License Restrictions
Mississippi	18	21	Mississippi Code Title 67 – Alcoholic Beverages Chapter 1 – 81. Sales to minors prohibited
Missouri	18	21	Missouri Title XX Chapter 31 311.300.  Persons eighteen years of age or older may sell or handle intoxicating liquor
Montana	18	18	Montana Code Title 39 Chater 2 Part 3 – 306 Employment Of Persons Under 18 Years Of Age As Bartenders Prohibited
Nebraska	19	19	Nebraska Revised Statute 53-168.06 General Prohibition – Exceptions
Nevada	21	21	Nevada Title 20 Chapter 244 – 351 Sale of intoxicating liquors: Sale by minors allowed in certain circumstances
New Hampshire	18	18	New Hampshire Statutes Title XIII – Alcoholic Beverages Chapter 179 – 23 – Employment; Employment of Minors; Felon Exception.
New Jersey	18	18	New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control Administrative Code Title 12 Chapter 58 – 4.17
New Mexico	18	21	New Mexico Statutes Chapter 60 – Article 7B – Section 11 – Employment of minors
New York	18	18	New York Consolidated Laws, Alcoholic Beverage Control Law – ABC § 100. Alcoholic beverages generally
North Carolina	18	21	North Carolina Administrative Code Title 14B – Chapter 15 – Section 0203 – Employee Age Requirement
North Dakota	18	21	North Dakota Century Code Title 5. Alcoholic Beverages § 5-02-06. Prohibitions for individuals under twenty-one years of age
Ohio	19	21	Ohio Title 43 Section 4301.22 | Rules for sales of beer and intoxicating liquor under all classes of permits and from state liquor stores
Oklahoma	18	21	Oklahoma Statutes Title 37A. Alcoholic Beverage §37A-2-121. Employee license
Oregon	18	18	Oregon Title 37 471.482 Sale or service of liquor by employees 18 years of age or older generally
Pennsylvania	18	18	Pennsylvania Statutes Title 47 P.S. Liquor § 4-431. Malt and brewed beverages manufacturers’, distributors’ and importing distributors’ licenses
Rhode Island	18	18	Rhode Island Title 3 Chapter 8 – 2. Age restriction for bartenders
South Carolina	18	21	South Carolina The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act Title 61-6-2200
South Dakota	18	18	South Dakota Codified Laws Title 35 – Alcoholic Beverages Chapter 04 – 79
Tennessee	18	18	Tennessee Code Title 50 – Chapter 5 – 106. Prohibited Employment for Minors
Texas	18	18	Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code – § 106.09. Employment of Minors
Utah	21	21	Utah Code Title 32B – Alcoholic Beverage Control Act Chapter 5 – Part 3 – Section 308 – Requirements on staff or others on premises — Employing a minor
Vermont	18	18	Vermont Title 7 : Alcoholic Beverages, Cannabis, and Tobacco Chapter 9 Subcharter 2
Virginia	18	21	Virginia 3VAC5-50-50. Restrictions upon employment of minors.
Washington	18	21	Washington Title 66 Chapter 44 – 350 Employees Eighteen Years
West Virginia	16	16	Supervised by a person 21+ West Virginia 11-16-18. Unlawful acts of licensees; criminal penalties.
Wisconsin	18	18	Wisconsin Chapter 125 Alcoholic Beverages
Wyoming	18	21	Chapter 6 Section 12-6-101 – Sale or Possession Prohibited

Additional Considerations

• Local Variations: Within states, local municipalities might have their own regulations. For example, a city or county might impose stricter rules than the state’s baseline requirements.
• Type of Establishment: Some states differentiate between types of alcohol served (e.g., beer and wine vs. spirits) and the type of establishment (e.g., restaurants vs. bars).
• Training and Certification: Many states require bartenders, regardless of age, to complete an alcohol server training. This training helps ensure that all bartenders understand the laws regarding alcohol service and responsible practices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

The age requirement to bartend varies significantly across the United States. If you’re considering a career in this field, it’s important to check the specific laws in your state. Whether you can start bartending at 18 or need to wait until you’re 21, understanding these regulations will help you plan your career path and ensure you comply with local laws.