From the Office of John Suchy
Division Director, Liquor Control
September 28, 2015

AGE OF EMPLOYMENT AT LIQUOR PERMIT PREMISES

This past legislative session, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed legislation clarifying the age at which persons may be employed at premises operating with a liquor permit.

Public Act 15-24 repealed C.G.S. § 30-90a and, in relevant part, replaced it with the following:

Any person sixteen years of age or over may be employed by an employer holding a permit issued under this chapter, except that (1) any person fifteen years of age or older may be so employed by such an employer on premises operating under a grocery store beer permit, and (2) any person under the age of eighteen who is employed on any permit premises shall not serve or sell alcoholic liquor.

Employers may hire sixteen year olds to work at on-premises consumption establishments, including but not limited to café, restaurant, and tavern permits, for work not involving selling or serving alcoholic liquor. Typical work may include kitchen help, hosting, and busing table. Bartenders and waiters who serve alcoholic liquor must be at least eighteen years of age.

Package stores may employ sixteen year olds as long as they do not serve or sell alcoholic liquor. Typically, stock clerks would be allowed. Employees who sell alcoholic liquor must be at least eighteen years of age. Employees at package stores selling lottery tickets should be at least sixteen years of age.

Grocery stores that sell beer may employ fifteen year olds, but the selling of beer is restricted to those employees who are at least eighteen years of age. Employees at grocery stores selling lottery tickets should be at least fifteen years of age.

John J. Suchy, Director of the Liquor Control Division