Law allows 18-year-olds to serve alcohol in Delaware restaurants
The Delaware Restaurant Association strongly supported the introduction and passage of HB 365, an act to amend Title 4 of the Delaware Code relating to alcoholic liquors. Previously, the age for waitstaff to serve alcohol to a patron was 19 years old. This act lowered the age of persons permitted to serve alcohol from 19 to 18 years of age for all establishments licensed for the on-premises sale and consumption of alcoholic liquor except taverns and taprooms.
Sponsored by Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, and co-sponsored by Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, the bill was signed into law by Gov. John Carney July 17.
“The requirement that you could be 18 and a server at a restaurant but not serve alcohol until you're 19 was an arbitrary law that prevented young people from being able to work in certain areas of the restaurant industry. But my bill to lower the age to serve alcohol 18 was signed into law, so now young Delaware residents like Sydney and Jasmine [in photo] will have the opportunity to be more involved in their restaurants and earn better wages too,” said Schwartzkopf.
The restaurant industry in Delaware currently employs nearly 50,000 people – 10 percent of the state’s workforce. Restaurant jobs are first jobs for one in three Americans, with early opportunities serving as training grounds for America’s workforce. The hospitality industry is the largest component of Delaware’s tourism industry, and as crowds swell at the beach each summer, more than 6,000 additional jobs are created for seasonal workers.
Delaware routinely see a seasonal workforce increase of more than 17 percent, one of the nation’s highest in available job opportunities according to the National Restaurant Association. Employing 18-year-old servers allows teenagers to gain valuable work experience, rather than jumping the line to Maryland or neighboring states where younger workers previously had the advantage in employment opportunities.
Delaware’s ProStart Program, currently reaching over 3,000 Delaware high school students, has been successful in providing an industry-driven culinary and management curriculum, valuable skills and workforce connections.
“The lasting benefits of early work experience are well documented. Once teenagers land that first job, they begin to learn the interpersonal and soft skills that will benefit them beyond their first paycheck. This is a win-win for Delaware’s young workforce and our local restaurants,” said Carrie Leishman, DRA president and CEO.
