In Missouri, bartenders are not required to be licensed in order to sell or serve alcohol. Alcohol laws in the “Show Me State” are some of the most lenient in the United States.
With that being said, the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC) highly recommends people to take free server training that is provided by the state known as SMART.
Missouri State-recommended Server Training Program
The Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC) of Missouri recommends that all servers of alcoholic beverages take advantage of the SMART Online Server Training Program.
SMART is a free, one-hour, online program that is run by the University of Missouri’s Wellness Resource Center. The program’s goal is to educate alcohol sellers and servers on the state’s laws and regulations regarding alcohol. Certifications are valid for two years.
Instructions on how to set up your account and begin the training can be found here.
While you are not required to take SMART, most employers in the state will require their employees to take the course to limit their liability. This is because restaurants and bars that have their employees take SMART training can receive a 15% discount on their liquor liability insurance.
Minimum Age To Sell and Serve Alcoholic Beverages In Missouri
The minimum age for waiters to serve alcohol beverages in Missouri is 18 years old as long as the establishment makes more than 50% of it’s revenue from serving food.
The minimum age to mix and serve alcoholic beverages in Missouri is 21 years old.
