Hotels that have a restaurant or special retail license can hire 18- to 20-year-olds to serve alcoholic beverages, under legislation the governor signed into law Thursday. The 18- to 20-year-old servers cannot work as bartenders, cannot deliver alcohol to a guest room and must complete responsible vendor training.

Act No. 2023-252 by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, and Rep. Frances Holk-Jones, R-Foley, also allows responsible vendor training to take place online or in a classroom setting. Any online training must include employee testing. The training records may be maintained in a digital format provided they can be produced within 48 hours at the request of the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

The new act amends the server law, which was last updated during the 2022 regular session.

On May 17, the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee carried over HB425 by Rep. Corey Harbison, R-Cullman, which would have allowed brewery or winery employees 18 years of age or older to serve alcoholic beverages. Not enough time remains in the regular session to consider that legislation.

OTHER ALCOHOL-RELATED LEGISLATION

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