Tennessee's Non-Alcoholic Beer Buying Laws For Under 21S

In the United States, the legal drinking age is 21, and this applies to beer, including non-alcoholic beer, which typically contains less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). While non-alcoholic beer contains only trace amounts of alcohol, it is still regulated by the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, and individual states have varying laws regarding its purchase and consumption by minors. In Tennessee, there is a prohibition on the possession, consumption, and purchase of alcohol by minors, with no exceptions. However, youth may purchase alcohol for law enforcement purposes.

Tennessee alcohol laws

In the state of Tennessee, the laws surrounding the purchase and consumption of non-alcoholic beverages for minors are quite strict. Here is an overview of the key Tennessee alcohol laws:

Purchasing Alcohol

Minors under the age of 21 are prohibited from purchasing alcohol in Tennessee. This includes non-alcoholic or NA beer, which, despite its name, actually contains a small amount of alcohol (typically less than 0.5% alcohol by volume).

Consuming Alcohol

It is prohibited for minors to consume alcohol in Tennessee, with no exceptions. This also applies to NA beer due to its alcohol content.

Internal Possession

Internal possession of alcohol by minors is not explicitly prohibited in Tennessee.

False Identification

The use of false identification to obtain alcohol is a criminal offense in Tennessee. The state has specific laws in place to distinguish driver's licenses for individuals under and over the age of 21. However, there is an affirmative defense for retailers who inspect false IDs and reasonably conclude that they are valid.

Driving Under the Influence

Tennessee has strict laws against underage drinking and driving. The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit for drivers under the age of 21 is 0.02. If a minor is found to have a BAC above this limit, it is considered per se (conclusive) evidence of a violation.

Social Host Laws

Tennessee's social host law prohibits property owners or occupants from knowingly allowing the consumption of alcoholic beverages by "underage adults" (individuals aged 18 to 21) on their property.

Retail Sales

Retailers in Tennessee are required to check the identification of any customer who does not reasonably appear to be over the age of 50 when purchasing alcohol. Failure to do so is a Class A misdemeanor.

Server Permits

Individuals serving alcohol in Tennessee establishments must obtain a server permit from the TABC (Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission). To obtain this permit, servers must be at least 18 years old, or 21 if the establishment permits smoking.

Festival Licenses

Festival operators in Tennessee who wish to sell or dispense alcohol must obtain a festival license and can only obtain alcoholic beverages from licensed Tennessee wholesalers.

Manager's Permits

Managers of retail package stores or retail food stores in Tennessee are required to obtain a manager's permit from the TABC. This permit allows them to supervise or manage the retail sales of alcoholic beverages.

Certified Clerks

Employees of retail package stores or retail food stores who sell alcoholic beverages are required to become certified clerks within 61 days of being hired. This involves completing responsible vendor training and being included on the store's list of certified clerks submitted to the TABC.

Training Requirements

To obtain and maintain a manager's permit or a server permit, individuals must complete specific training courses approved by the TABC. These include responsible beer/wine vendor training and a course covering recent changes in laws, statutes, rules, and regulations.

Hours of Sale

The authorized hours for selling alcohol in Tennessee vary depending on the day of the week and the type of establishment. Generally, alcohol sales are permitted from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Mondays through Saturdays and from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Sundays. However, there are specific restrictions for different types of retailers, such as retail food stores and restaurants, which may have different authorized hours of sale.

Advertising Restrictions

There are specific restrictions on advertising alcoholic beverages in Tennessee. Retailers are prohibited from advertising free alcoholic drinks, selling alcoholic beverages below cost, or having their advertising costs reimbursed by a supplier.

Happy Hour Specials

Licensed establishments may conduct "Happy Hour" specials until 10:00 PM local time. After this time, certain restrictions apply, such as prohibiting the service of multiple drinks to a single customer at once.

Pregnancy Warning

Establishments that sell alcoholic beverages, including retail package stores, restaurants, limited service restaurants, and wineries, are required to post a pregnancy warning sign in a prominent place. Failure to do so can result in a fine of $25 per day.

Record-Keeping

Retailers and licensees in Tennessee are required to maintain records for a specified period. For example, retail package stores must maintain records for three years, and these records must be made available for inspection by the TABC and the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

Tastings

Retail package stores and wineries in Tennessee are permitted to conduct complimentary tastings of alcoholic beverages on their premises during business hours. However, there are volume restrictions for samples, and records must be kept for any remaining products.

Delivery Services

Retail package stores in Tennessee may deliver alcoholic beverages to residents, but they must follow specific regulations, such as verifying the purchaser's ID and maintaining records of all deliveries.

Markup Requirements

There are minimum markup requirements for wine and other alcoholic beverages sold in retail package stores in Tennessee. Wine must be marked up by at least 20%, while other beverages like liquor, spirits, and high-gravity beer must be marked up by at least 10%.

These are some of the key Tennessee alcohol laws, particularly relating to minors and the sale and consumption of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. It is important to stay informed about the specific regulations in your state to ensure compliance with the law.

Can minors buy non-alcoholic beer in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, the sale of alcoholic beverages or beer to a minor is a Class A misdemeanour. Minors are defined as those who do not reasonably appear to be aged 50 or older.

Non-alcoholic beer is defined as containing less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). Despite the low ABV, non-alcoholic beer does contain small amounts of alcohol, and is therefore included in laws prohibiting consumption by minors.

In some US states, minors are permitted to buy non-alcoholic beer. However, Tennessee is not one of these states. Minors in Tennessee are prohibited from purchasing alcohol, with no exceptions.

Counties and cities can modify age restrictions, and stores may also have stricter policies than the law requires. Therefore, it is important to check the local laws and retailer policies before attempting to purchase non-alcoholic beer if you are a minor.

Can minors drink non-alcoholic beer in Tennessee?

The laws surrounding the consumption and purchase of non-alcoholic beverages by minors vary across the United States. In Tennessee, minors are prohibited from purchasing and consuming alcohol, with no exceptions.

Non-alcoholic beer (defined as containing <0.5% alcohol by volume) does contain small amounts of alcohol, and so is typically included in laws prohibiting consumption by people under 21. However, some states have different rules regarding non-alcoholic beverages. For example, in some states, minors are permitted to consume non-alcoholic beer in the presence of a parent or guardian.

It is not clear whether Tennessee law prohibits minors from consuming non-alcoholic beer, but it does prohibit the purchase of alcohol by minors, with no exceptions.

Non-alcoholic beer laws in Tennessee

Tennessee's laws on non-alcoholic beer for minors are not entirely clear-cut, however. While minors are prohibited from purchasing alcohol, they may buy it for law enforcement purposes. Additionally, while consumption is prohibited, minors aged 18-21 may consume non-alcoholic beer with parental permission or in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

Retailers should also be aware that Tennessee has specific laws regarding false identification. It is a criminal offence for minors to use false IDs to obtain alcohol, and licenses for drivers under 21 are designed to be easily distinguishable from those for drivers 21 and older. However, there is an affirmative defence for retailers who sell alcohol to a minor if the minor presents a false ID that appears valid, and the minor looks 21 or older.

In summary, while Tennessee's laws generally prohibit the sale and consumption of non-alcoholic beer by minors, there are some exceptions, and retailers should be vigilant about checking IDs to avoid falling foul of the law.

Drinking non-alcoholic beer under 21 in the US

In most states, non-alcoholic beer is defined as containing less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). However, this small amount of alcohol means that non-alcoholic beer is still regulated by the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, and its sale to minors is prohibited in many states.

Tennessee, for example, prohibits the possession and consumption of alcohol by minors, with no exceptions. While non-alcoholic beer may contain less alcohol than some fruit juices, it is still treated as an alcoholic beverage under the law.

Some states, such as Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, allow minors to consume non-alcoholic beer with parental permission or in the presence of a parent or guardian. Other states, like Ohio, permit the purchase of non-alcoholic beer by minors over the age of 18.

The laws regarding non-alcoholic beer for minors are not always clear-cut, and they can vary not just by state but also by county and city. Retail stores and online retailers often require customers to be at least 21 when purchasing non-alcoholic beer to avoid legal complications.

It is essential to check the specific laws in your state, county, and city before purchasing or consuming non-alcoholic beer as a minor, as the consequences of violating these laws can be severe.

Frequently asked questions