Rising Demand for Young Bartenders Sparks State Legislation

Several states in the United States are lowering the minimum age for serving alcohol, with at least nine states introducing bills to do so. The restaurant industry, facing challenges in hiring workers, has supported these bills. However, labor experts warn that lowering the alcohol service age puts teenagers at risk of sexual harassment, underage drinking, and other harms. The restaurant industry already has the highest number of child labor law violations. These efforts to lower the alcohol serving age are part of a larger trend of loosening child labor protections in states across the country, with violations of child labor laws rapidly increasing.