House Labor and Commerce Committee introduces HB 68 to allow 18–20-year-olds to serve alcohol and add cancer warning sign

The House Labor and Commerce Committee introduced House Bill 68 during its Jan. 27 meeting, a committee bill that would allow people aged 18, 19 and 20 to serve, sell, deliver and dispense alcoholic beverages under specified conditions and would change required warning signage. The committee sponsor said the bill is identical to the version that passed the Legislature last year except that, if enacted, it would take effect 90 days after the governor signs it.

The bill's sponsor and staff outlined detailed statutory changes across Alaska Statutes chapters governing alcoholic beverage licensing. Evan Anderson, staff to Representative Fields, summarized the bill's provisions, saying it amends multiple sections (for example, AS 04.09.210, AS 04.09.360, AS 04.16.049 and AS 04.16.052) to allow licensees to employ people aged 16–21 with supervision requirements for 16- and 17-year-olds, to permit 18–20-year-olds to serve and sell alcohol except in adult entertainment businesses, to change theater-license rules about patrons and service, and to replace the existing pregnancy-focused warning sign with a sign that also states that alcohol use can cause cancer.

Supporters from the hospitality and tourism sectors told the committee the bill is aimed at mitigating persistent workforce shortages. Lee Ellis, board president of the Brewers Guild of Alaska, said the industry is experiencing staffing shortages that the bill would help address and provide summer and seasonal work opportunities for young Alaskans. Ralph Samuels, vice president of government affairs for Holland America Princess Alaska (HAP), said large tourism employers hire thousands of seasonal workers and view the bill as a way to retain and train younger workers for supervisory roles and year-round careers. Sarah Oates Harlow, president and CEO of Alaska CHARR (Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association), told lawmakers Alaska is one of three states that currently requires servers to be 21 and said the change would help keep young workers in the state’s hospitality industry.

Business owners speaking in public testimony emphasized training and existing credential requirements. David McCarthy, founder and CEO of Northern Hospitality Group, said licensed facilities already require training and ID checks and argued that allowing 18–20-year-olds to serve would create employability pathways. Diane Thompson, president of the Alaska Hospitality Retailers Association and owner of a restaurant in South Anchorage, also supported the bill as a workforce measure and noted the prior Legislature passed an identical measure last year shortly after midnight before it was vetoed.

Opponents raised public-health and safety concerns. Tiffany Hall, CEO of Recover Alaska, testified the bill would expose younger workers to environments with alcohol and increase risks of harassment and exploitation; she argued there is no evidence lowering server age solves labor shortages and urged amendments such as limiting ages to 19–20, restricting hours, and strengthening ID-check and training requirements. Public commenter Aaron Osterback said he opposed the bill citing Alaska Native community impacts and concerns that younger workers would be put in unsafe situations.

Committee members asked several clarifying questions. Representative Klum asked what “adequate supervision” means; Joe Bancalski, enforcement supervisor at the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office (AMCO), said the office does not have a statutory definition but that in practice it would mean an adult over 21 in a supervisory or management position present near the underage employee. Representative Kerrick and others asked whether the bill would permit 18–20-year-olds to work behind a bar in venues that have both a bar and restaurant under the same license; Bancalski said his interpretation is that restaurant endorsements or similar license endorsements would permit that work in establishments that combine restaurant and bar functions, while stand-alone bars without a restaurant endorsement would not be covered.

Members also discussed the bill's sign-change provision. Representative Sadler questioned whether replacing the current pregnancy-focused warning with a sign that states alcohol can cause cancer would change behavior; witnesses had mixed answers. Recover Alaska cited a Canadian pilot showing a decrease in alcohol sales where cancer warnings were displayed and urged adoption of standalone legislation on cancer warnings, while some hospitality witnesses said they do not expect the new wording to substantially change patron behavior.

No committee vote was recorded at the Jan. 27 meeting; the committee established an amendment deadline and next steps. The committee set the amendment deadline for HB 68 at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, and recessed with the committee scheduled to meet again at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29.

Details of the bill's statutory references and the range of testimony will inform potential amendments expected before the Jan. 29 deadline. The committee did not adopt any final amendments or take a recorded vote on HB 68 during the Jan. 27 meeting.