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Proposed law could help restaurants recruit more employees

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Hopside Brewery co-owner Selina Weiland pours a craft beer on Wednesday. The Michigan legislature may lower the age of people who can sell and serve alcohol from 18 years old to 17 years old. If approved by the senate, and signed by the governor, the new law could help businesses hire more employees.

ALPENA – A proposed law in Michigan could lower the age of people who are able to sell or serve alcohol.

The law would lower the age of someone selling or serving alcoholic beverages from 18 years old to 17 years old.

It does not impact the legal drinking age in Michigan, which remains 21 years old.

Action on the bill hasn’t been taken in the state senate as of Wednesday.

It is hoped House bill 4232 will help bars, restaurants, and stores who struggle to keep and recruit workers. It may also provide more flexibility to business when hiring and attract more employees, especially those who may be just entering the workforce.

State Rep. Sue Allor, R-Wolverine, voted for the proposed law because she believes it can help businesses – that have operated shorthanded for many months – fill positions. She said some businesses already employ 17 year olds, but they are restricted in what they can do involving alcohol, which puts employers in a bind. Allor said she believes the law will help businesses operate more efficiently and with more staff.

“I have received many calls from businesses who are struggling to find workers,” Allor said. “They told me they had high school kids applying, but couldn’t hire them because of the alcohol law. I felt because of the current economic climate, shutdowns, and staffing shortages, this would be something I could do to help them.”

The Michigan Liquor Control Commission has a different view on the bill and is opposed to the proposed change. In a testimony to the House Committee on Regulatory Reform, it outlined its concerns.

“Immaturity and peer pressure may contribute to a younger employee selling or serving other minors or intoxicated persons,” Its letter to the committee said. “People under the age of 18 may still work in a licensed establishment taking food orders, serving food, clearing tables, stocking shelves, and cashing out customers without alcoholic products, as long as they comply with the Youth Employment Standards Act. While the MLCC is sympathetic to the difficulties that licensees presently have filling positions that sell and serve alcohol, the MLCC is opposed to this legislation because of the long term safety concerns with allowing 17-year-olds to sell and serve alcohol.”

Allor disagreed and said the age gap between 18 years old and 17 years old isn’t large and anyone who intends to break the law will, no matter how old they are. To help lessen the risk, Allor said businesses should help young employees understand the ramifications of their illegal actions, and show them how best to handle uncomfortable or tempting situations.

“The business owner or managers should train and monitor them,” she said. “Ultimately this falls on the business owner, but I think you have to trust your employees. That’s the bottom line.”

Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce President Adam Poll said if the bill becomes law, it could provide a larger pool of potential employees. He said that is good because right now the labor market is tight and many businesses will take any help they can get.

“Anything the legislature can do to widen the labor market and help more people work is always a benefit,” Poll said. “It allows businesses to dip from a larger net of possible workers, which I think could be good.”

Currently, Maine is the only state that permits 17-year-old employees to sell or serve alcoholic drinks at restaurants, bars and tasting rooms, the commission noted. Eighteen states allow people under 18 years old to sell alcohol at grocery, liquor, and convenience stores.

It is unknown when the senate will bring up the bill.

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