How Old Do You Have to Be to Serve Alcohol in Texas?

In Texas you must be at least 18 years old to serve, pour, or sell alcohol for on-premise consumption at a bar or restaurant. There is no minimum age to take the TABC certification course, and stores that sell sealed, to-go alcohol (off-premise) generally have no minimum age for cashiers.

Texas sets the minimum age based on where the alcohol is consumed:

• On-premise (bars and restaurants): you must be 18 or older to serve or sell alcohol consumed on site.
• Off-premise (grocery and convenience stores): generally no minimum age to ring up sealed, to-go alcohol.
• Package / liquor stores: employees must be 21 or older (wine-only package stores: 16 or older).

There is no minimum age to take the TABC seller-server course — the age limits apply to working with alcohol, not to getting certified. Getting TABC certified early makes you hireable the day you turn 18.