Underage sales and liability laws by state

SB 15: An Act relating to the sale of alcohol; relating to the posting of warning signs for alcoholic beverages; and providing for an effective date.

Licensees or their agents or employees must not with criminal negligence allow persons under 21 years of age to enter licensed premises except as provided, consume alcoholic beverages on premises, or sell or serve alcoholic beverages. Licensees must display three specific warning signs meeting size and lettering requirements at conspicuous locations.

Took effect 1 July 2025

SB 917: Alcoholic beverages: certified farmers' market sales permit.

Licensed winegrowers conducting instructional tasting events at certified farmers' markets must ensure persons conducting such events complete RBS training. No more than three licensees may conduct instructional tasting events during any one certified farmers' market's operational hours. Wine poured per person per day cannot exceed three ounces.

Takes effect 1 January 2027

AB 509: Alcoholic beverages: minors.

The act imposes no new duties on licensees. It modifies the existing defense available to licensees by providing that use of active age verification software or age verification devices that fail to identify false identification cards constitutes evidence in prosecutions or license proceedings, provided the identification was physically inspected, is seemingly legitimate, and matches the customer's appearance.

SB 25-274: Amend Delivery Requirements Wine Direct Shipping

A driver delivering on behalf of an alcohol beverage shipper licensee shall not leave a package unattended on a doorstep and shall check the recipient's identification to ensure that the individual accepting delivery is the individual intended to receive the product and is not under twenty-one years of age or visibly intoxicated.

HB 373: An act to amend title 4 and title 16 of the delaware code relating to alcohol and marijuana.

Clarifies that hemp products and cannabinoid products that are not infused beverages may be manufactured, distributed, and sold without marijuana licensing if compliant with federal and state hemp laws, and prohibits treating such products as marijuana solely because they contain cannabinoids.

HB 195: An act to amend title 4 of the delaware code relating to bartending.

A person must be 18 years of age or older to be involved in the sale, service, or preparation of alcoholic liquor. A person who is 18, 19, or 20 years old involved in preparation of alcoholic liquor must be directly supervised by a person 21 years or older working behind the bar. No person under 21 may work in any capacity in a tavern or taproom offering sexually oriented entertainment.

SB 185: Alcohol and tobacco matters.

Persons selling tobacco products or e-cigarettes at retail must obtain a valid tobacco sales certificate from the commission. Wholesalers must obtain a wholesale tobacco sales certificate. Manufacturers of e-liquid must obtain a permit. Retailers may not sell e-liquid products containing more than seventy-five milligrams per milliliter of nicotine. No person may manufacture, sell, or distribute foreign adversary products.

Took effect 1 July 2026

SB 23: Alcoholic beverage permits for county fairs.

The alcohol and tobacco commission may issue permits to local boards to sell alcoholic beverages by the glass on county fair grounds. Holders of brewer's, beer retailer's, liquor retailer's, wine retailer's, farm winery, and artisan distiller's permits may participate in events sponsored by local boards on county fair grounds upon proper notice to the commission. Local boards must file applications with the commission including vendor names, permit numbers, event dates, and floor plans.

Took effect 1 July 2026

HB 1275: Alcohol and tobacco commission matters.

Distributors of taxable products must not sell, use, or distribute flavored nitrous oxide. Permit holders of retailers and craft manufacturers serving alcohol must maintain liquor liability insurance of at least five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) or face permit denial, suspension, or revocation. Retail establishments must not sell tobacco products to persons under twenty-one (21) years of age.

Took effect 1 July 2025

HB 1108: Allegany County - Alcoholic Beverages - Minimum Age for Employment of Underage Individuals

License holders in Allegany County that do not derive more than half their revenues from food sales must employ individuals aged 18 to 21 years only. License holders deriving more than half revenues from food sales may employ individuals aged 16 to 21 years. All individuals must be at least 18 years old to sell or serve beer, light wine, and liquor.

Took effect 1 July 2025

HB 486: St. Mary's County - Alcoholic Beverages - Civil Penalty for Sales Violations

Increases the maximum civil penalty that the Board of License Commissioners for St. Mary's County may impose for violations of alcoholic beverage licensing laws from $1,000 to $2,500, effective July 1, 2025.

Took effect 1 July 2025

SB 132: Generally revise minor in possession laws

Persons under 21 years of age must not knowingly consume, use, possess, or distribute alcoholic beverages, marijuana, or other intoxicating substances. Persons under 21 must not attempt to purchase these substances. Parents or guardians of convicted minors under 18 must complete substance abuse information courses.

HB 249: Include digital identifications in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana laws

Businesses that scan physical or digital government or tribal-issued identification to determine age for age-restricted items must use data only to determine age, may not transfer or sell that data, and must permanently delete it within 180 days. Sellers of tobacco products must require presentation of physical or digital identification if age is in reasonable doubt.

HB 196: Revise digital ID certification laws

The department shall certify server and sales training programs that include procedures for checking identification, including government-certified digital identification cards. Any person may not fraudulently misrepresent age, falsely procure, or alter any identification card, including government-certified digital identification cards.

HB 157: Revise alcohol laws related to responsible server and sales training

The department shall certify two classes of server and sales training programs: one for employees at licensed locations providing on-premises alcohol consumption, and one for employees of licensees providing only off-premises consumption. The off-premises program must be completed within at least half the time required for the on-premises program. The department may not provide such training programs itself.

HB 77: prohibiting certain licensees from electronically recording or storing personal information obtained from an identification card.

Licensees may scan approved forms of identification to verify age for alcohol or tobacco purchases. Licensees must not electronically record, retain, or store personal information from identification cards, including photographs, social security numbers, driver identification numbers, names, addresses except 5-digit zip codes, telephone numbers, and medical or disability information.

HB 1375: AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 5-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a licensed premises serving alcohol and refusal to furnish a photo identification; to amend and reenact section 5-02-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the time frame to file a complaint against a licensed retailer of alcoholic beverages; and to provide a penalty.

A local governing body may conduct no more than two compliance checks per month per licensed premises and may not conduct random inquiries or investigations without permission unless it has evidence establishing reasonable and articulable suspicion of a violation. An individual under twenty-one whom a peace officer requests to furnish photo identification must provide it or be guilty of an infraction. Complaints against licensed retailers must be filed within fourteen days of the alleged violation.

HB 1062: Alcoholic beverages; employee license; age; restrictions; effective date.

Holders of employee licenses must be at least eighteen years old, except employees of grocery stores or convenience stores who must be at least sixteen. Persons under twenty-one years of age cannot be employed to sell spirits. Individuals eighteen years and older may serve beer and wine from original containers or pre-made mixed drinks. First-time applicants must complete ABLE Commission-approved training within fourteen days of initial licensure.

Took effect 1 November 2025

HB 7043: An act relating to alcoholic beverages -- retail licenses

Applicants for retail alcoholic beverage licenses in Burrillville, North Providence, and Westerly must file certificates of insurance with their applications evidencing commercial general-liability and property-damage coverage of at least three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000), with Westerly also requiring liquor liability coverage. Certificates must provide that insurance cannot be modified or cancelled without prior advance notice to the respective town and must name the town as an additional insured. Licensees must be insured by carriers licensed in Rhode Island.

H 3430: Tort Reform and Liquor Liability

Persons licensed or permitted to sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption must maintain liquor liability insurance with one million dollars annual aggregate limit unless qualifying for risk mitigation. Alcohol servers and managers must complete approved training and obtain certificates. Licensees and permittees must not knowingly sell alcohol to intoxicated persons.

Took effect 1 January 2026

SB 650: Relating to requiring the use of electronically readable information to verify a purchaser's age in the retail sale of alcoholic beverages.

A person shall access electronically readable information on a driver's license, commercial driver's license, or identification certificate to verify a purchaser's age in any retail sale of an alcoholic beverage, except for retail sales on the premises of a package store permit holder.

Took effect 1 September 2025

HB 59: Identification Verification Amendments

Authorized persons must verify proof of age for individuals appearing 35 years old or younger before they procure alcoholic products at restaurants, bars, or taverns, or purchase beer from off-premise beer retailers. Off-premise beer retailers, state stores, and package agencies must request proof of age from each patron and verify interdicted person status when a Utah driver license is presented.

HB 437: Interdicted Person Amendments

Courts must designate defendants convicted of driving under the influence as interdicted persons, prohibiting them from purchasing alcohol for a court-determined period. Interdicted persons must obtain a unique driver license or identification card with security features indicating interdicted status. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services must provide training on verifying interdicted person status.

Took effect 1 January 2026

H 105: An act relating to expanding the Youth Substance Awareness Safety Program

A person 12 years of age or older and under 21 years of age shall not misrepresent age to procure alcohol, possess alcohol or cannabis for consumption, or consume alcohol. A person who violates these prohibitions must be referred to the Court Diversion Program to enroll in the Youth Substance Awareness Safety Program.

Took effect 1 July 2025

HB 3513: Relating to standards of liability and insurance requirements in certain civil actions

Persons or licensees selling alcoholic beverages are not liable for damages from intoxication unless they knowingly sold to someone underage or visibly intoxicated. Those maintaining at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate liquor liability insurance must limit past medical expense verdicts to $1 million and punitive damages to twice compensatory damages.

HB 2054: Relating to liability of vendors in private farmers markets

Removes the requirement that private farmers markets or private food courts with two or more unrelated vendors must certify that all vendors have agreed to joint and several liability for violations. Removes the requirement that such venues provide written agreements acknowledging vendors are jointly and severally liable.