What is the bar age limit in Texas?

Asked by: Prof. Katlynn Watsica DVM  |  Last update: December 26, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (28 votes)

State law does not require that a person over 21 provide any ID to purchase alcohol in Texas. But since store clerks, wait staff and bartenders can be held criminally liable for selling to a minor, they often require a military, state or federal government-issued photo ID to prove their age.

Can you get into bars at 18 in Texas?

It is not illegal for a minor to enter a bar in Texas. For example, certain bars in Austin allow minors with the payment of a cover fee. However, it is illegal for bartenders to sell alcohol to minors so some bars may prohibit minors as a general policy. Can you drink under 21 with a parent in Texas in public?

Is it legal for a bar to be 25+?

In the U.S., the legal drinking age is 21. However, there have been bars and restaurants that have increased their age of entry to 25. For example, bars changing to 25 and up include Bentley's on Broadway and Horizons & More in Texas.

Is the drinking age 18 in Texas?

People must be at least 21 years of age to legally consume alcoholic beverages in Texas with certain exceptions, as in all other states. However, employment at a company serving alcoholic beverages can be entered into at age 18 provided they get certified by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

How old do you have to be to tend a bar in Texas?

You only have to be 18 years old to bartend in Texas. So be like the thousands of graduates from our Dallas, Houston and Austin bartending schools, and have fun making big money. You can get started for just $100 down at the Texas School of Bartenders.

Texas drinking age goes up | 1986

19 related questions found

Can an 18 year old tend bar?

Servers in California can be convicted of selling alcohol to a minor if the purchaser uses a false or altered ID to buy the alcohol. Minors may not work in any establishment primarily selling alcohol.

How old do you have to be to go to a strip bar in Texas?

The new law prohibiting anyone younger than 21 to work in or patronize a Texas strip club went into effect immediately after its signing.

Did Texas alcohol laws change?

In 2021, Texas updated its laws regarding the purchase times for beer and wine on Sundays, moving it from noon to 10 a.m. Meanwhile, liquor stores have permission to operate from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Is 18 legal age in Texas?

Like many other states, Texas recognizes 18 as the "age of majority." This is the age when residents are legally considered adults. Prior to that age, they are considered "minors."

Is drinking age 21 in all states?

Since July 1988 the minimum legal drinking age has been 21 in all States.

What is the lowest drinking age in the world?

For Djibouti, Lebanon, the Marshall Islands, North Korea or South Sudan, the other five countries listed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as independent states, no information on the age of alcohol consumption was available. At 13, Burkina Faso is the country with the youngest age of alcohol consumption.

What states can you drink with your parents at 18?

With the exception of five states (Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, New Hampshire, and West Virginia), all states and Washington, D.C., allow underage consumption of alcohol under limited circumstances, such as in the presence of parents, for religious or medical purposes, or while in a class that requires tasting.

Does Texas have 18+ clubs?

There's a reason Stampede Houston stands out among other 18+ clubs in the city. From our friendly staff to our high-energy atmosphere, we're all about making sure you have the best time possibles.

What are the blue laws in Texas?

In Texas, blue laws prohibit the sale of liquor on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day, with additional restrictions on beer and wine sales.

What bars in Houston don't ID?

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Can you legally drink in Texas at 18?

You must be 21-years-old to legally drink in the state of Texas. This is also the age requirement for many drinking establishments in Austin. Liquor can only be bought from specific liquor stores. Grocery stores, drug stores, convenience stores, etc.

What is the Juliet law in Texas?

According to Texas' Romeo and Juliet Law, anyone between the ages of 14 and 17 can legally give consent to have sex with someone within 3 years of their age. This means that an 18-year-old and 15-year-old would be able to have consensual sex under Texas law without it being considered a child sex offense.

What states legal age is 18?

States where the age of consent is 18 (12): Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

What year did Texas lower the drinking age to 18?

In 1973, Texas lowered the drinking age to 18 — only two years after the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18 during the rising tide of young anti-war protestors. Texas then raised the drinking age to 19 in 1981 shortly before President Reagan used his federal power to override individual states' MLDAs in 1986.

Can bar owners drink in their bar?

Owners can drink at their own establishments only when off-duty. Bartenders and servers cannot consume any alcohol while serving customers.

What is the drunk law in Texas?

Per Texas law, it is illegal for individuals aged 21 and above to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. This means that if a driver's BAC level is at or above 0.08%, they are considered legally intoxicated, and driving under such conditions can result in severe penalties.

Can an 18 year old sit at a bar in Texas?

Yes, as long as the bar allows children to be on their premises (some don't). Texas is also weird in that those under the age of 21 are allowed to drink at the bar as long as their legal guardian (most often a parent) is present and consents to it.

Do strippers pay taxes?

Do strippers have to pay taxes? Like other professional workers, strippers are required to pay federal, state, and municipal taxes on their earnings. It includes income tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax. Some discussions or rumors that strippers may altogether avoid paying taxes are simply a myth.

Can you go to a club at 18?

While the lawful drinking age is predictable at 21, a few states permit passage to bars and clubs for people as youthful as 18 or 19, as long as they don't polish off liquor. The points of interest can shift fundamentally by state and, surprisingly, by the arrangements of individual settings.

Can you bartend at 18 in Texas?

Texas has specific age requirements for how old they require people to be to sell and serve alcohol. It requires people to be at least 18 years old to sell or serve alcoholic beverages in places where customers consume the alcohol on the premises, such as bars, restaurants and entertainment venues.