HB425 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Corey Harbison

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to alcoholic beverages; to amend Section 28-1-5, Code of Alabama 1975, as last amended by Section 1 of Act 2022-383 of the 2022 Regular Session, to authorize employees of a brewery or winery who are 18 years of age or older to serve alcoholic beverages.

Summary

HB425 would allow 18- to 20-year-old employees of breweries or wineries to serve alcoholic beverages under specific conditions, expanding who can serve alcohol beyond the current 21+ rule.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends Alabama's alcohol law to permit 18–20-year-old employees of licensed breweries, wineries, or restaurants to serve alcohol, as servers or bussers, but not as bartenders and not to pour or dispense. It also allows 18–20-year-old employees of wholesale licensees or off-premises retailers to handle, transport, or sell alcohol, as long as they stay within their job scope. A representative aged 21 or older must be present when under-21 workers are on duty, and restaurants must be annually certified as responsible vendors. If an employer requires an under-21 worker to handle alcohol in violation, civil penalties are set at $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second, and $1,000 for the third or subsequent offenses. The act would take effect on the first day of the third month after its passage and governor’s approval.

Who It Affects

• Young employees aged 18–20 who work for licensed breweries, wineries, or restaurant licensees and would be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages under the bill’s conditions.
• Licensees and employers (breweries, wineries, restaurants, wholesalers, and off-premises retailers) who hire under-21 workers, with new responsibilities to ensure proper roles and supervision, and potential civil penalties for noncompliance.

Key Provisions

• 18–20 year olds employed by licensed breweries, licensed wineries, or restaurant licensees may serve alcoholic beverages within the scope of their employment as servers or bussers.
• They may not work as bartenders or pour/dispense alcoholic beverages.
• Restaurant licensees must be annually certified as a responsible vendor under the Alabama Responsible Vendor Act.
• Under-21 individuals employed by wholesale licensees or off-premises retail licensees may handle, transport, or sell alcohol within their job scope.
• A licensee representative aged 21 or older must be present at all times when an under-21 employee is working.
• The board may impose civil penalties for employers who require an under-21 employee to handle, transport, or dispense alcohol in violation: $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense, and $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense.
• Effective date: the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor’s approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Breweries and Wineries, allow persons 18 or over to be employed as servers of alcoholic beverages