The Alaska House has approved Senate Bill 15 which would lower the age for wait staff to serve alcohol in restaurants from 21 to 18. The bill had already been passed unanimously by the Senate. Currently, Alaska, along with Nevada and Utah, has an age limit of 21 for serving alcohol in restaurants, while most states have a minimum age of 18. The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Kelly Merrick, would allow 18-year-olds to serve alcohol in certain establishments, but the minimum age would remain 21 for venues offering adult entertainment.
The legislation was proposed in response to concerns from the restaurant industry about a shortage of workers. Advocates argue that the current age limit hinders their ability to hire and retain employees in the 18-20 age range. However, some lawmakers, including Rep. Sarah Vance, expressed concerns about the moral implications of allowing individuals to serve alcohol at a younger age when they are not allowed to drink it themselves.
The bill also requires businesses selling alcohol to post signs warning about the link between alcohol consumption and cancer. Alaska has a high rate of problem drinkers, with 18% of residents engaging in binge drinking, higher than the national average. The bill will now go to the governor for consideration. If signed, it will come into effect and change the regulations for serving alcohol in the state.
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Photo credit mustreadalaska.com
