AK: Alcohol warning signs, underage servers included in Alaska bill
Alaska’s News Source
By Jonson Kuhn
January 27, 2025
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Cancer warning signs in places selling alcohol, like bars and liquor stores, and allowing supervised 18-20-year-olds to serve alcohol would become law if a state Senate bill that advanced out of a committee hearing Monday passes the legislature.
The bill, SB 15 mirrors language similar to a bill vetoed last session because they were passed after a midnight deadline.
Supporters, including the bill sponsors Senators Kelly Merrick, Jesse Bjorkman, Matt Claman, and Elvi Gray-Jackson argue they will increase promoting responsible consumption, create job opportunities, and enhance public safety.
A key provision of the bill includes revised warning signs at bars, liquor stores, and other beverage-selling establishments to better address what supporters say is the connection between alcohol consumption and cancer.
Other bill provisions include an unemployment change, allowing 18-20-year-olds to serve alcohol in certain licensed establishments under supervision – which supporters say will do a better job preventing underage drinking; adjusting access rules for teens 16-year-old and older to enter licensed alcohol establishments; as well as expanding hours theatres are allowed to serve alcohol
Diane Thompson, president of the Alaska Hospitality Retailers Association, reminded committee members the bill had passed both the state Senate and House last year.
“We’re really asking that this bill gets through this year,” Thompson said. “As many of you already know, there’s a very big shortage of workforce. I think it would really help the students that are coming back in the summer that are coming in from other states that are working in the hospitality industry and are allowed to serve at home, but because they’re not 21, they can’t do it in the state.”
The bill now heads to the Senate Rules Committee, if it passes it could potentially be scheduled for a Senate vote.