Alaskans as young as 16 would be allowed to work in restaurants, and those as young as 18 could serve alcohol if a bill passed Monday by the Alaska Senate becomes law.
Senate Bill 15, the work of sponsor Sen. Kelly Merrick, cleared the Senate on a unanimous 19-0 vote. It now advances to the state House for consideration. It’s legislation very much along the lines of last year’s House Bill 189, which passed both bodies but was vetoed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, because it, along with four other bills, passed the Alaska House after the midnight deadline of the last day of season.
The changes SB 15 makes in law include:
- Employment of Minors: Allows restaurants, seasonal tourism establishments, and theaters to employ 16–21-year-olds, with supervision requirements for those aged 16–17. Employees aged 18–20 can serve alcohol, except in adult entertainment venues.
- Theater Alcohol Sales: Expands the time frame for alcohol sales in theaters and removes intermission-related restrictions.
- Access to Licensed Premises: Permits 16+ individuals to be in theaters and large resorts without adult supervision, while those under 16 must have guardian consent.
- Warning Signs: Updates required signage at alcohol vendors to include warnings about birth defects and cancer risks related to alcohol use.
- Repeals & Clarifications: Eliminates outdated theater license provisions and defines “adult entertainment” to ensure those venues cannot employ minors under the new allowances.
The bill doesn’t allow persons under the age of 21 to work in bars where alcohol is the primary sales product. But it does allow 18-year-olds to serve alcohol to patrons in restaurants, breweries, distilleries, and wineries, while excluding bars and package liquor stores.
Also, minors would not be allowed behind the bar or in other areas where alcohol is present.
Alaska’s minimum age for alcohol consumption was lowered to 19 in 1970 and remained there until the federal government changed the legal drinking age to 21 in 1984 and required states to follow.
Under the proposed law, minors under 21 would still not be able to consume alcohol legally, but they could serve it in restaurant and other settings.
