How old do you have to be to bartend?

One of the most frequently asked questions aspiring bartenders have is: “how old do I have to be to become a bartender?”

In other words, new bartenders often want to know at what age they can start preparing and serving drinks. 

This is clearly important to know because along with (potentially) having to get your liquor-serving/bartending license, meeting the minimum age is the only other requirement to be a bartender.

Unfortunately, there isn’t one answer to “how old do you have to be to bartend” because age requirements vary from country to country, state to state, and province to province.

So to answer the majority of people’s questions, I’ve put together a few simple tables so you can quickly look up what the minimum age is to be a bartender in your geographical area.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Bartend: Table of Contents

1. 1. United States Bartending Age Requirements
      • On-Premise Bartender
      • On-Premise Server
      • Off-Premise Seller
   2. International Bartending Age Requirements

In the tables below, you’ll be able to find the minimum age requirements for the following countries, states, and provinces: Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States.

If you work as a bartender in other parts of the world and you know what the minimum age requirement is, please reach out so I can also add that country to the list :-).

Please get in touch here.

Finally, before we get to the list, I’d like to point out that in the United States, despite some state’s lower legal minimum age requirements, some bars will still require you to be of legal drinking age (i.e. 21) to hire you as a bartender.

Because bartenders are constantly surrounded by alcohol, it’s common for them to drink (illegally) on the job. If you get caught drinking illegally AND you’re underage, the venue will face the consequences. So it’s more risky hiring bartenders who are underage and some venues aren’t willing to take that risk.

United States Bartending Age Requirements

In the United States, age-requirements for serving alcohol can be confusing. The requirements are primarily broken down between two categories: On-premise and Off-premise. Furthermore, the serving of alcohol On-premise can be broken down one step further. Let’s take a look.

How Old to Bartend On-Premise

On-premise refers to an establishment that sells alcohol to be consumed in where it is purchased, hence on the premise. This includes restaurants, bars, casinos, hotels, and more. On-premise can be further broken down between servers and bartenders, with each having their own age requirements (which we will get into below). The difference between a server and a bartender is that a bartender may pour and mix drinks, whereas a server may only serve the completed drink to the patron.

How Old to Bartend Off-Premise

Off-premise refers to an establishment that sells alcohol that is to be consumed off the premises. The most common off-premise establishment is the liquor store, but it can also include such things as grocery or convenience stores.

Now that we have gotten that out of the way let’s take a look at the age requirements for each category.

On-Premise Bartending Age Requirements

*In some states it is required that a manager or supervisor be present in the establishment while an underage person is serving alcohol. 

On-Premise Server Age Requirements

Off-Premise Seller Age Requirements

International Bartending Age Requirements

Note: Be aware that minimum age requirements do sometimes change. These cases are rare but they exist. To be sure, contact your local municipality for the most up to date legal information.

Can You Bartend Under 21?

Yes, there are currently 31 states where individuals can bartend under the age of 21. As you can see from the tables above, there are specific state rules that are more prohibitive even if you can bartend under 21 though. Some states have different rules based on the alcohol, some require a manager on staff, and of course there are also other requirements for servers vs. bartender. It is also worth noting that some states have local allowances that differ from state rules, so be sure to check your county’s regulations.

Do you have to be 21 to be a bartender?

No, as we stated already you do not have to be 21 to be a bartender. Be sure to check your states requirements to be a bartender.

Can you be a bartender at 18?

Yes, in many states you can bartend at 18 years old. States like Arizona, Colorado, and Florida all allow you to bartend at age 18. It’s not just a legal permission; it’s an opportunity to start refining your mixology skills early. So, if you’re wondering ‘can you be a bartender at 18’ and passionate about crafting drinks, you’re ready to step behind the bar and kickstart your bartending journey.

How old do you have to be to go to bartending school?

There is no set age to go to bartender school but typically students will start school when they can legally bartend in their state. Double check with your bartender school as you may be able to get started early.

What Licenses Are Required to Become a Bartender?

Regardless if you make the age requirements to bartend, in some states and counties, there are requirements that you have be licensed in order to serve, sell, or make alcoholic beverages. You can see state and county licensing requirements here.