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.
Generally, to be employed as a bartender or to serve or dispense alcohol in a licensed retail establishment, a person must be at least eighteen years of age.
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.
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.
What States Can I Bartend in at 18?
FAQ
Can you serve alcohol at 18 in PA?
Can an 18 year old sit at a bar in PA?
Do you need a Licence to bartend in PA?
Can you be a bartender if you are 18?
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.
What age can a bartender serve alcohol?
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?
What is the minimum age for bartending?
Most U.S. states permit adults to tend bar in on-premises venues. That is, people age 18 or older. We show the minimum age for bartending in each state. A “bartender” is a person who dispenses alcoholic beverages. On the other hand, “ server ” refers to a waitperson. On-premises venues are those selling alcohol for drinking there.
Do you need a bartending license in Pennsylvania?
The defacto “bartending license” that’s required in the state of Pennsylvania is known as the RAMP Seller/Server Training. Here’s what you need to know: The training is mandatory for bartenders or anyone serving, selling, mixing drinks, or checking IDs.