What is the minimum age to serve alcohol?

The minimum age to serve alcohol in on-premises establishments varies from state-to-state. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia require servers to be 18 or older. Three states require servers to be 21, and three states allow a 17-year-old to serve alcohol.

Servers generally refer to waiters. The age requirements for bartenders may be different depending on the location. In some places, servers under 21 are only allowed to serve alcohol in restaurants, while others only allow servers under 21 to serve alcohol under the supervision of a legal-age manager. Some states also require servers under 21 to undergo special training.