AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BARTENDING.
Consumers may experience a wider availability of bartending services in establishments as younger individuals can enter the workforce.
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HB 195 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BARTENDING.
Last action — Signed by Governor
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced June 05, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Matt Meyer (Democratic) on June 10, 2026.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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5 sponsors
5 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (4 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 3 recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
In plain language
This bill allows 18-year-olds to bartend under supervision and updates training requirements.
The act lowers the minimum age for bartending from 21 to 18, requiring younger bartenders to be supervised by someone 21 or older. It also mandates that alcoholic beverage server training occurs every two years instead of four.
What this means for you
- Workers: For younger workers, this means more job opportunities in bartending, provided they are supervised.
- Consumers: Consumers may experience a wider availability of bartending services in establishments as younger individuals can enter the workforce.
- Small Business: Small businesses in the food service industry may benefit from a larger pool of potential bartenders.
Summary
This Act changes the age at which a person can bartend from 21 years old to 18 years old, and requires that a bartender who is 18, 19, or 20 years old be directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old. This Act also increases the frequency of statutorily mandated alcoholic beverage server training from every 4 years to every 2 years. To ensure that 18–20-year-olds are protected from sexually oriented content by virtue of being permitted to bartend, this Act prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from entering into or working in any capacity in a tavern or taproom that offers sexually oriented entertainment. This includes taverns and taprooms that are licensed as adult entertainment establishments under Chapter 16 of Title 24, taverns and taprooms that offer sexually explicit performances as defined in § 787 of Title 11, and tavern and taprooms that are advertised as “strip clubs,” “adult entertainment clubs,” “gentlemen’s clubs,” or that offer performances or services of a sexually oriented nature. Currently, Delaware is in the minority of states when it comes to requiring bartenders to be 21 years old. By reducing the legal bartending age to 18, this Act will help Delaware’s food service industry remain competitive with the many other states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, in which 18–20-year-olds can bartend.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
89 added · 14 removedPlain-language change summary
The amendment removes a provision that would have allowed individuals under 19 years old to prepare alcoholic liquor, even if they are 18 or older, while they are enrolled in a secondary school program. This means that an 18-year-old who is still in high school cannot engage in preparing alcoholic beverages. This change aims to distinguish the working rights of younger employees who are still completing their education.
Sen.Rep.
WalshK. DELAWARE STATE SENATE 153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE AMENDMENT NO.
1Williams TO& HOUSESen. BILL NO.
195Walsh AmendRep. House Bill No.
195Michael bySmith; inserting between lines 47 and 48 the following:
“(q)Sens. Notwithstanding the age-related provisions of subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j) of this section, a person who is under 19 years old may not be involved in the preparation of alcoholic liquor while the person is enrolled in a secondary school program.”.
SYNOPSISLockman, ThisMantzavinos AmendmentHOUSE providesOF thatREPRESENTATIVES notwithstanding153rd theGENERAL loweringASSEMBLY ofHOUSE theBILL minimumNO. bartending age in this State to 18 years old, a person who is under 19 years of age may not be involved in the preparation of alcoholic liquor while the person is enrolled in a secondary school program.
Author:195 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 4 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BARTENDING.
SenatorBE WalshIT DLSENACTED :BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1.
Amend § 904, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 904.
Offenses concerning certain persons.
(g) Nothing in this section shall prevent the employment of a person, 14 years of age or older, in clubs with authorized dining facilities, hotels, racetracks and restaurants licensed under this title, provided that such a person shall not be involved in the sale or service of alcoholic liquor.
that:
(1) A person may not be involved in the sale, service, or preparation of alcoholic liquor unless the person is 18 years of age or older.
(2) A person who is 18, 19, or 20 years old may be involved in the sale and service of alcoholic liquor but may not be involved in the preparation of alcoholic liquor unless directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old.
(h) Nothing in this section prevents any of the following:
(1) The employment of a person 18 years of age or older to prepare, sell, or serve alcoholic liquor to patrons of establishments licensed under this title for the on-premises sale and consumption of alcoholic liquor.
liquor, provided that a person who is 18, 19, or 20 years old and is involved in the preparation of alcoholic liquor is directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year- old.
(2) The employment of a person 18 years or older to work in any capacity in a tavern or taproom, except a person less than 21 years old may not prepare alcoholic liquor for patrons of a tavern or taproom.
taproom.
A person 18 years or older may sell or prepare, sell, or serve alcoholic liquor for patrons of a tavern or taproom.
taproom, provided that a person who is 18, 19, or 20 years old and is involved in the preparation of alcoholic liquor is directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old.
DLS :
AFCM Page 1 of 13 Released:
04/21/202606/04/2025 04:1312:49 PM 0231530108(3) A person 18 years of age or older to enter a tavern or taproom to pick up a food order for delivery through a third-party delivery service.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (h)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, a person under age 21 may not enter into or work in any capacity in a tavern or taproom that offers sexually oriented entertainment.
This includes all of the following:
a.
A tavern or taproom that is also licensed as an adult entertainment establishment under Chapter 16 of Title 24.
b.
A tavern or taproom that offers sexually explicit performances, as defined in § 787 of Title 11.
c.
A tavern or taproom that is advertised as a “strip club,” “adult entertainment club,” “gentlemen’s club,” or that offers performances or services of a sexually oriented nature.
(i) Nothing in this section shall prevent the employment of a person, 16 years of age or older, in a catering business serving liquors, provided that such person shall not be engaged in the sale or service of alcoholic liquor.
that:
(1) A person may not be involved in the sale, service, or preparation of alcoholic liquor unless the person is 18 years of age or older.
(2) A person who is 18, 19, or 20 years old may not be involved in the preparation of alcoholic liquor unless directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old.
(j) Nothing in this section shall prevent the employment of a person, 16 years of age or older, in a bowling alley licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, provided that such person shall not be engaged in the sale or service of alcoholic liquor.
Show all 71 changed lines (31 more)
that:
(1) A person may not be involved in the sale, service, or preparation of alcoholic liquor unless the person is 18 years of age or older.
(2) A person who is 18, 19, or 20 years old may not be involved in the preparation of alcoholic liquor unless directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old.
Section 2.
Amend § 1204, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 1204.
Training standards and curriculum.
(d) Anyone required to undergo training in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, who has within the previous 4 years 2 years successfully completed a responsible alcoholic beverage server training program which satisfies DLS :
KES :
CM Page 2 of 3 Released:
06/04/2025 12:49 PM the requirements of the Commissioner, and is approved by the Commissioner, shall not be obligated to undertake additional training until such time as the person is required to undergo renewal training in accordance with § 1205 of this title.
Section 3.
Amend § 1205, Title 4 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 1205.
Certification and renewal training.
Every person who successfully completes an approved responsible alcoholic beverage server training program shall be certified by the instructor as having met the requirements of this chapter.
The course taught shall be either the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement course or any other Commissioner approved course.
The instructor shall provide the names of the persons who successfully complete the approved class, as well as such additional information that is required by the Commissioner, to the Commissioner and the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement.
Such certification shall be valid for a period of 4 years 2 years at which time the person must undergo renewal training in order to obtain recertification which shall also be valid for a period of 4 years.
2 years.
Renewal training shall include the information described in § 1204 of this title and/or such other information as the Commissioner may by regulation require.
SYNOPSIS This Act changes the age at which a person can bartend from 21 years old to 18 years old, and requires that a bartender who is 18, 19, or 20 years old be directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old.
This Act also increases the frequency of statutorily mandated alcoholic beverage server training from every 4 years to every 2 years.
To ensure that 18–20-year-olds are protected from sexually oriented content by virtue of being permitted to bartend, this Act prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from entering into or working in any capacity in a tavern or taproom that offers sexually oriented entertainment.
This includes taverns and taprooms that are licensed as adult entertainment establishments under Chapter 16 of Title 24, taverns and taprooms that offer sexually explicit performances as defined in § of Title 11, and tavern and taprooms that are advertised as “strip clubs,” “adult entertainment clubs,” “gentlemen’s clubs,” or that offer performances or services of a sexually oriented nature.
Currently, Delaware is in the minority of states when it comes to requiring bartenders to be 21 years old.
By reducing the legal bartending age to 18, this Act will help Delaware’s food service industry remain competitive with the many other states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, in which 18–20-year-olds can bartend.
DLS :
KES :
CM Page 3 of 3 Released:
06/04/2025 12:49 PM 0231530035
Show all 71 changed rows (31 more)
Action History
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Signed by Governor
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Passed By House. Votes: 32 YES 6 NO 1 NOT VOTING 2 ABSENT
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Passed By Senate. Votes: 14 YES 5 NO 2 NOT VOTING
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Amendment SA 1 to HB 195 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
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Reported Out of Committee (Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
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Amendment SA 1 to HB 195 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
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Assigned to Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee in Senate
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Passed By House. Votes: 31 YES 5 NO 5 ABSENT
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Reported Out of Committee (Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce) in House with 6 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
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Introduced and Assigned to Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee in House
Sponsors
- Spiros Mantzavinos · Primary
- Josue O Ortega · Primary
- Michael F. Smith · Primary
- John "Jack" Walsh · Primary
- Kimberly Williams · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →5 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 57 not signed on · 11 voted No
Sponsors (5)
- Spiros Mantzavinos Democratic
- Josue O Ortega Democratic
- Michael F. Smith Republican
- John "Jack" Walsh Democratic
- Kimberly Williams Democratic
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (57)
57 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 57 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 25 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Republican | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 32 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 78% | 15% | 0% | 7% |
How each member voted (41)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Alonna Berry | Democratic | Yea |
| Claire Snyder-Hall | Democratic | Yea |
| Cyndie Romer | Democratic | Yea |
| DeShanna U Neal | Democratic | Yea |
| Debra Heffernan | Democratic | Yea |
| Edward S. Osienski | Democratic | Yea |
| Eric Morrison | Democratic | Yea |
| Frank Burns | Democratic | Yea |
| Franklin D. Cooke | Democratic | Yea |
| Josue O Ortega | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Kamela T Smith | Democratic | Yea |
| Kendra Johnson | Democratic | Yea |
| Kerri Evelyn Harris | Democratic | Yea |
| Kimberly Williams | Democratic | Yea |
| Krista Griffith | Democratic | Yea |
| Larry Lambert | Democratic | Yea |
| Madinah Wilson-Anton | Democratic | Yea |
| Mara Gorman | Democratic | Yea |
| Melanie Ross Levin | Democratic | Yea |
| Melissa Minor-Brown | Democratic | Yea |
| Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha | Democratic | Yea |
| Sean M. Lynn | Democratic | Yea |
| Sherae'a Moore | Democratic | Yea |
| Sophie Phillips | Democratic | Yea |
| Stephanie T. Bolden | Democratic | Not Voting |
| William Bush | Democratic | Yea |
| William J. Carson | Democratic | Yea |
| Bryan W. Shupe | Republican | Nay |
| Charles S Postles Jr. | Republican | Nay |
| Daniel B. Short | Republican | Yea |
| Jeff Hilovsky | Republican | Nay |
| Jeffrey N. Spiegelman | Republican | Yea |
| Jesse R. Vanderwende | Republican | Yea |
| Kevin S Hensley | Republican | Yea |
| Lyndon D. Yearick | Republican | Not Voting |
| Michael F. Smith | Republican | Yea |
| Richard G. Collins | Republican | Nay |
| Ronald E. Gray | Republican | Yea |
| Shannon Morris | Republican | Nay |
| Timothy D. Dukes | Republican | Nay |
| Valerie Jones Giltner | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Republican | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 14 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 67% | 24% | 0% | 10% |
How each member voted (21)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Bryan Townsend | Democratic | Yea |
| Daniel Cruce | Democratic | Yea |
| Darius J. Brown | Democratic | Yea |
| David P. Sokola | Democratic | Yea |
| John "Jack" Walsh | Democratic | Yea |
| Kyra L. Hoffner | Democratic | Yea |
| Laura V. Sturgeon | Democratic | Yea |
| Marie Pinkney | Democratic | Yea |
| Nicole Poore | Democratic | Yea |
| Ray Seigfried | Democratic | Yea |
| Russell Huxtable | Democratic | Yea |
| S. Elizabeth Lockman | Democratic | Yea |
| Spiros Mantzavinos | Democratic | Yea |
| Stephanie L. Hansen | Democratic | Yea |
| Trey Paradee | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Brian Pettyjohn | Republican | Nay |
| Bryant L. Richardson | Republican | Nay |
| Dave G. Lawson | Republican | Nay |
| David L. Wilson | Republican | Nay |
| Eric Buckson | Republican | Nay |
| Gerald W. Hocker | Republican | Not Voting |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 24 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Republican | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 31 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| % of votes cast | 76% | 12% | 0% | 12% |
How each member voted (41)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Alonna Berry | Democratic | Yea |
| Claire Snyder-Hall | Democratic | Yea |
| Cyndie Romer | Democratic | Yea |
| DeShanna U Neal | Democratic | Yea |
| Debra Heffernan | Democratic | Yea |
| Edward S. Osienski | Democratic | Yea |
| Eric Morrison | Democratic | Yea |
| Frank Burns | Democratic | Yea |
| Franklin D. Cooke | Democratic | Yea |
| Josue O Ortega | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Kamela T Smith | Democratic | Yea |
| Kendra Johnson | Democratic | Yea |
| Kerri Evelyn Harris | Democratic | Yea |
| Kimberly Williams | Democratic | Yea |
| Krista Griffith | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Larry Lambert | Democratic | Yea |
| Madinah Wilson-Anton | Democratic | Yea |
| Mara Gorman | Democratic | Yea |
| Melanie Ross Levin | Democratic | Yea |
| Melissa Minor-Brown | Democratic | Yea |
| Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha | Democratic | Yea |
| Sean M. Lynn | Democratic | Yea |
| Sherae'a Moore | Democratic | Yea |
| Sophie Phillips | Democratic | Yea |
| Stephanie T. Bolden | Democratic | Not Voting |
| William Bush | Democratic | Yea |
| William J. Carson | Democratic | Yea |
| Bryan W. Shupe | Republican | Nay |
| Charles S Postles Jr. | Republican | Nay |
| Daniel B. Short | Republican | Yea |
| Jeff Hilovsky | Republican | Nay |
| Jeffrey N. Spiegelman | Republican | Yea |
| Jesse R. Vanderwende | Republican | Yea |
| Kevin S Hensley | Republican | Not Voting |
| Lyndon D. Yearick | Republican | Yea |
| Michael F. Smith | Republican | Yea |
| Richard G. Collins | Republican | Nay |
| Ronald E. Gray | Republican | Yea |
| Shannon Morris | Republican | Not Voting |
| Timothy D. Dukes | Republican | Nay |
| Valerie Jones Giltner | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 195 do?
- This Act changes the age at which a person can bartend from 21 years old to 18 years old, and requires that a bartender who is 18, 19, or 20 years old be directly supervised by a person who is 21 years of age or older and who is working behind the bar with the 18-, 19-, or 20-year-old. This Act also increases the frequency of statutorily mandated alcoholic beverage server training from every 4 years to every 2 years. To ensure that 18–20-year-olds are protected from sexually oriented content by virtue of being permitted to bartend, this Act prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from entering into or working in any capacity in a tavern or taproom that offers sexually oriented entertainment. This includes taverns and taprooms that are licensed as adult entertainment establishments under Chapter 16 of Title 24, taverns and taprooms that offer sexually explicit performances as defined in § 787 of Title 11, and tavern and taprooms that are advertised as “strip clubs,” “adult entertainment clubs,” “gentlemen’s clubs,” or that offer performances or services of a sexually oriented nature. Currently, Delaware is in the minority of states when it comes to requiring bartenders to be 21 years old. By reducing the legal bartending age to 18, this Act will help Delaware’s food service industry remain competitive with the many other states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, in which 18–20-year-olds can bartend.
- Who sponsors HB 195?
- HB 195 is sponsored by Spiros Mantzavinos (Democratic), Josue O Ortega (Democratic), Michael F. Smith (Republican), John "Jack" Walsh (Democratic), and Kimberly Williams (Democratic).
- What is the current status of HB 195?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced June 05, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 195?
- Track HB 195 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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