In Ohio, there aren’t any state regulations in place that require a server or bartender to be licensed in order to sell alcohol.
It is important to remember, however, that some employers may still require bartenders to complete such courses regardless of state or city laws.
Minimum Age To Serve Alcoholic Beverages In Ohio
The state of Ohio has somewhat complex laws concerning age and serving alcohol.
For starters, if you are seeking to become specifically a bartender, you must be 21. In other words, in order to sell spirits, wine, or mixed alcoholic beverages across a bar, you must be at least 21 years old.
There is one slight exception, though. If you are only selling or serving beer across a bar, the minimum age is 19.
To review, here are all the bartending limitations for ages 18-21:
- 18-year-olds may sell beer, wine, mixed beverages, or spirituous liquor in sealed containers ONLY
- 19-year-olds may handle beer, wine, mixed beverages, or spirituous liquor in open containers when only acting in the capacity of a waiter/ waitress
- 19-year-olds may sell beer only across a bar
- 21-year-olds are allowed to sell or serve wine, mixed beverages, or spirituous liquor across a bar
And finally, a person of any age may handle beer, wine, mixed beverages, or spirituous liquor in connection with stocking, bagging, bussing tables, etc.
Recommended Training Material/ Providers
While there are no mandates that require alcohol server training in the state of Ohio, there are still several programs and courses available. And just because training courses are not required doesn’t mean that they are a total waste of time and money. Serving alcohol courses serve as a great way for individuals to learn more about local liquor laws and responsible serving practices and could quickly boost a resumé prior to applying to a new gig. Plus, there’s always a chance that an employer requires training to begin with.
Cutting to the chase, let’s look at some of the best bartending training programs the state offers…
- Our suggestion for online training is this course from ServingAlcohol.
- Alcohol Server Knowledge (ASK) Program: The ASK program is designed for liquor permit holders and their employees. The program provides instruction on laws pertaining to the sale and/or consumption of alcohol. Upon completion, employees will be mailed a certificate of completion from the Ohio Investigative Unit. The best perk? It’s free. If interested, contact the Ohio Investigative Unit at (614)644-2415 or by email.
Helpful Resources:
- Click here to download the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control’s Safe Alcohol Sales Training Guide (pdf). It’s a booklet and helpful guide for understanding many of the liquor laws and rules in the state of Ohio.
- Click here to access the Ohio Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Education Series. It entails various educational materials around the restaurant industry, including:
- Webinars/ accompanying slides
- Ohio Food Safety Codes
- Meetings & Events
- ServSafe Programs
For more information, please contact your local City Clerk’s office.
