Workers Under 21 Can Now Serve Liquor At Restaurants, Board Says

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL — Village officials announced employees as young as 19 can next month begin serving alcohol at local restaurants in an effort to help small business owners who can't find or afford enough staff.

The decision came at a village board meeting Tuesday after a survey found most neighboring towns allow people under 21-years-old to perform liquor services. The board voted to change the village code, which means the updated rule will be in effect even after the worker shortage is over.

Under the new rule, 19- and 20-year-olds who are employed by a licensed establishment can sell and serve liquor, but are still not allowed to pour or make alcoholic drinks, board minutes indicated. All servers who will be taking drinks to tables or charging customers for beverages will have to complete a training program.

The updated code is designed for servers who work at restaurants that also serve alcohol, a village spokesperson said, and won't affect bars that only serve liquor, since most servers would be required to make drinks as well.

The changes take effect Sept. 1.