How old do you have to be to bartend in Arkansas?

Arkansas  –  21

The age to bartend in Arkansas is 21.

Waiting tables in a restaurant or bar is 19.

Serving alcohol, under the age of 21, requires parental consent.

To learn more about the bartending age in Arkansas here is the link to the state website.

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https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/alcoholic-beverage-control/responsible-permittee-program/

(4) Sales to Certain Persons Prohibited.
The permittee or any employee, agent or servant of the permittee sold to, offered for sale, dispensed, gave away, allowed the possession or consumption of, or otherwise disposed of or furnished any controlled beverages by any person who is not a person permitted by these Regulations or by the laws of the State of Arkansas to purchase, receive, possess, or consume such beverages, including but not limited to any of the following persons: (Amended 8-21-13)

A. Persons Under 21 Years.
Any person under twenty-one (21) years of age;

B. Person Who is Intoxicated.
Any person who is intoxicated or who is known to be an habitual drunkard;

C. Person Failing to Make Provision for Family; Repealed 8-17-05 

D. Person Who is Insane.
Any person who is known to the permittee to be insane or mentally handicapped;

E. Habitual User of Narcotics.
Any person who is known to the permittee to be an habitual user of narcotics or other habit forming drugs;

F. Person Acquiring Controlled Beverages for Illegal Sale.
Any person who the permittee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is acquiring the controlled beverages for the purpose of illegal sale or other disposition;

G. Person Paying for Controlled Beverages With Food Stamps.
Any person who attempts to pay for the controlled beverages with United States Department of Agriculture Food Stamps.

(5) Sale of Controlled Beverages for Other Than Cash, Check, or Nationally Recognized Credit Card Prohibited – Gift Certificates Allowed.
The permittee or any employee, agent or servant of the permittee sold or dispensed any controlled beverages for any consideration other than cash, nationally recognized credit card, or check dated the same day as the sale. Nationally recognized credit card shall mean, but is not limited to VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, Carte Blanche, Discover, major oil company credit cards, or others of the same nature and type. Further, any permittee may sell gift certificates or gift cards to any person permitted by these Regulations which may be redeemed for alcoholic beverages on a subsequent date by any person permitted by these Regulations.

It is further provided that any permittee that offers gifts certificates or gift cards shall receive full payment for the same at the time the gift card or gift certificate is sold to any person.   Payment shall be made for the gift card in the same manner as if alcoholic beverages were being purchased at that time.   Only cash, credit card or check dated the same date as the date of sale may be used for payment for the gift card or gift certificate.  Gift cards or gift certificates may not be bartered or exchanged to any other person to be used as payment for any obligations owed by the permittee.  If it is found that a permittee is paying its advertising bills or other such obligations with gift cards or gift certificates being given as payment or partial payment for the debt owed by the permittee, then redemption of the gift card or gift certificate, where the item has been sold by the third party for a price less than the face value of the gift certificate or gift card, will be deemed to be a merchandising discount program and will constitute a violation against the retailer under the provisions of Arkansas ABC Regulations 3.19(5). (Amended 8-16-11)

(6) Delivery of Controlled Beverages by a Retailer Prohibited.
The permittee or any employee, agent or servant of the permittee delivered or arranged for the delivery of any controlled beverages to a consumer, except as otherwise provided for in these Regulations. (Amended 8-18-99)

(7) Sale of Controlled Beverages in Container or Size Other Than Approved Prohibited.
The permittee or any employee, agent or servant of the permittee sold or offered to sell any controlled beverages in any container or size of container not approved by the Director in accordance with these Regulations. (Amended 8-18-99)

(8) Sale of Controlled Beverages by Vending Machine Prohibited.
The permittee or any employee, agent or servant of the permittee sold, offered to sell, dispensed or gave away any controlled beverages by means of a vending machine or other similar type device. (Amended 8-18-99)

(9) Purchase or Order From Unpermitted Sales Agent Prohibited. Repealed 8-14-11 

(10) Employment of Certain Persons Prohibited.
The permittee knowingly had in his employment any person who is not qualified by reason of these Regulations or by reason of any alcoholic beverage control law of the State of Arkansas for the position to which such person was employed, including but not limited to, any of the following persons:

A. Persons Convicted of Certain Laws. 
Any person in the serving or mixing of controlled beverages, or in the dispensing of alcoholic beverages, the control of crowds or entrance to the permitted premises, or the management of the business or activities of the outlet who has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to or has been found guilty of; (1) a violation of a law concerning the possession, sale, manufacture or transportation of intoxicating liquor or (2) a felony and who is on probation or serving a suspended sentence as a result of the felony. Provided, a person who has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to or has been found guilty of a felony and who is on probation or serving a suspended sentence as a result of the felony may be employed by an on premises permittee if the person works only in a kitchen and alcoholic beverages are not served out of the kitchen.   Provided further, a person who has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to or has been found guilty of a felony and who is not on probation or serving a suspended sentence as a result of the felony may be employed by an on premises permittee in any capacity. Provided, that those convicted felons whose felony conviction involves bodily harm or the threat thereof to another person or the use of a weapon, as such is defined in Section 1.79(33) of these Regulations, may not be employed as a manager, security guard, bouncer, or in any position that requires the handling of alcoholic beverages. (Amended 8-21-13)

B. Persons Under Twenty-One (21); Exceptions.
Any person less than twenty-one (21) years of age in the mixing, serving, selling or handling of controlled beverages. Provided, that nothing in this Regulation shall prohibit a minor eighteen (18) years of age or older to be employed as a musician or entertainer or to be employed in the preparation or serving of food or in the housekeeping department of any establishment permitted by this Agency; and nothing in this Regulation shall prohibit a minor eighteen (18) years of age or older, with the written consent of a parent or guardian, to be employed in the sale of beer and small farm wine at retail grocery establishments, nor  from being employed by permitted liquor and beer wholesalers and by permitted small farm wineries to handle alcoholic beverages at the place of business of the permitted wholesaler or winery; and further,  nothing in this Regulation shall prohibit a minor of any age to be employed as an entertainer when the minor and his parent or guardian perform together as part of the same show and the parent or guardian remains with the minor in a supervisory capacity. Provided further, minors sixteen (16) and seventeen (17) years of age may be employed at those permitted outlets that qualify as retail grocery establishments, but may not handle alcoholic beverages. (Amended 8-21-13)

For purposes of this Regulation, retail grocery establishments shall not include those establishments engaged in the sale of motor fuels which do not maintain an inventory of human consumables (not including alcoholic beverage products) in an amount in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). The burden of providing this inventory requirement shall be on the permittee.

Any person or organization which holds a public restaurant mixed drink permit, a public hotel-motel-restaurant mixed drink permit, a restaurant wine permit, or a private club permit may employ persons 19 years  of age or older to sell and handle alcoholic beverages. Provided, that persons 19 years of age and older may not act as bartenders but they may otherwise open bottles of wine and beer and serve the alcoholic  beverages and take payment for the same. (Amended 8-21-13)

Bartending Wages in Arkansas

  • Workers on average earn $11.00 per hour.
  • 10% of workers earn $11.00 or less per hour.
  • 10% of workers earn $14.83 or more per hour.