How Old do You Have to be to Serve Alcohol?

To serve alcohol and bartend, there are different age restrictions, depending on your state jurisdiction. Age restrictions, ranging from 18 to 21, differ across the country, similar to how bartending license requirements vary depending on state regulations. 

If you’re looking to start your bartending career, read the information below to understand the age requirements better to serve alcohol and work behind a bar. 

Do you have to be 21 to serve alcohol? 

The legal age to serve alcohol is generally 18 years old. However, depending on your state and city, the legal age to serve alcohol ranges between 18 and 21. Typically, each state establishes the required minimum age within its borders. 

However, there may be an exception to the rule, or some tricky alcohol legislation put in place, so do your research on your city and state if you're looking to begin a career in bartending. 

There can also be different requirements depending on the type of alcohol being served. For example, some states, like North Carolina, have other legal age limits on employees serving beer versus liquor.

Due to all these factors, applicants and businesses must be aware of the laws governing that bar or restaurant's situation. 

Can you serve alcohol at 18? 

Yes, most states will allow you to serve alcohol at 18. However, this may be impacted by state and city regulations. 

For example, in Illinois, you can serve alcohol at 18, but in Chicago, you need to be 21. Therefore, you should check the city website to see the regulations listed.  

How old do you have to be to serve alcohol? 

To clarify, here's a list of the minimum legal age to serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises establishments across all 50 states.  

It's important to remember that these laws, created at a state level, can be modified by local governments. 

Even if the minimum legal age to serve alcohol in your state is 18, your town or city may raise the number. However, they are not authorized to lower it. Therefore, you can't serve alcohol under age set by the state.

Do you have to be 21 to be a bartender? 

Possibly, but it depends on the state you reside in. Bartenders must be at least 21 years old in 18 states, and specific cities may have additional restrictions.

In 26 states, the minimum age to serve alcohol is 18. However, local laws and licensing requirements can significantly impact this. Serving alcohol and bartending are not always synonymous, as some states permit the serving alcohol age for wine to be under 21 but not to serve liquor at a bar. 

Can you be a bartender at 18? 

Yes, only if you reside in one of the 26 states where the legal bartending age is 18.  However, your state may require a bartending license or an alcohol server certification. The restaurant or bar also needs to understand the requirements, or they risk having their liquor license revoked.

How old do you have to be to bartend? 

Here is a list of the minimum age required for employees who bartend in on-premises establishments per state.

Can minors sell alcohol?  

In some states, you can be 16 to sell liquor, wine, or beer in original unopened containers for off-premises consumption (grocery stores, convenience stores, liquor stores, etc.).

Employees between 16 and 19 years old may complete a transaction for selling beer, wine, or spirits if they do not handle or serve it. 

Licensing Requirements 

Another legal state requirement to serve alcohol or be a bartender, besides age, is licensing. 

Not all bartenders have their bartending license, as it is not a requirement to serve alcohol. 

However, if you are at or under the indicated legal age, you may be required to complete a bartending course depending on your specific state and local government. You can find this information on their website, so browse their webpage before applying for a job.

For more information or to take a course and become certified, browse our Alcohol Training courses. All you must do once there is select your state and enroll in the training!