Can a Minor Drink at a Bar in East Texas? The Surprising Answer

(Tyler, Texas) - Turning 21-years-old is a big milestone for any male or female. It's that last age hurdle to officially becoming an adult. At 18, they can vote, do things without a parent's consent, have their own bank account and much more. At 21, they can go into a bar or store and legally buy alcohol.

But is it legal in Texas if someone under the age of 21 drinks a beer at a bar or restaurant in East Texas? You would think the answer would be no but it's not. Let's take a look at the exception to that law and how a bar or restaurant can, and legally, handle that exception.

My Time in the Bar Business

I spent a few years working in the bar business to earn a little extra money. Because I was around alcohol and watching over those who were drinking alcohol, I had to go through training from Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission (TABC). In that training, I had to learn the laws associated with drinking in a public setting.

Those included how many drinks one person could buy at a time, how to prevent minors from drinking, and what drinkers hate we learn -- when to cut someone off. Preventing minors from drinking can be tricky. They will find any way possible to sneak a drink or find someone who will buy them a drink.

In my time working in bars, I had to kick out several minors, and the people buying it for them, on many occasions. I also encountered a couple of situations where a parent came to the bar with their minor and would want to buy a drink for that minor.

Is That Legal to Do in Texas?

Surprisingly, yes. If a parent or guardian wants to buy a minor an alcoholic drink, it is perfectly legal to do so as long as the parent or guardian stays with that minor. Where I worked, however, the policy of the bar was to not allow the parent or guardian to purchase a drink for the minor or even let them sip the drink.

It is left up to the establishment to determine if they will allow a parent or guardian to buy that drink for their minor. The main reason why is liability. Most responsible bars do not allow this even if it is legal under Texas law. It's not worth the risk to that establishment.

Minors at Home

If a parent or guardian allows their minor to drink at home, that is perfectly legal. However, if something were to happen to that minor, or if they serve alcohol to a minor who is not their child, that parent or guardian can face serious legal consequences.

You can get a full rundown of all the penalties associated with underage drinking at tabc.texas.gov. You can read the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code at statutes.capitol.texas.gov.