Columbia Sales, handling by minors ordinance (§ 4-18)
Chapter 4: Alcoholic Beverages · Article I. In General
In short: People under 21 may not sell or help sell alcohol or nonintoxicating beer, except that 18-year-olds may stock, ring up and bag it at stores where at least 50% of sales are other goods, and serve it as waiters or waitresses where at least 50% of sales are food. They may not deliver it off-premises or mix or serve it across the bar.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(a) Except as provided in this section, no person under the age of twenty-one (21) years shall sell or assist in the sale or dispensing of intoxicating liquor or nonintoxicating beer.
(b) In any place of business licensed in accordance with state statute, where at least fifty (50) per cent of the gross sales made consists of goods, merchandise or commodities other than intoxicating liquor or nonintoxicating beer in the original package, persons at least eighteen (18) years of age may stock, arrange displays, accept payment for, and sack for carryout intoxicating liquor or nonintoxicating beer. Delivery of intoxicating liquor or nonintoxicating beer away from the licensed business premises cannot be performed by anyone under the age of twenty-one (21) years. Any licensee who employs any person
under the age of twenty-one (21) years, as authorized by this subsection, shall, when at least fifty (50) per cent of the licensee's gross sales does not consist of nonalcoholic sales, have an employee twenty-one (21) years of age or older on the licensed premises during all hours of operation.
(c) In any distillery, warehouse, wholesale distributorship, or similar place of business which stores or distributes intoxicating liquor or nonintoxicating beer but which does not sell intoxicating liquor or nonintoxicating beer at retail, persons at least eighteen (18) years of age may be employed and their duties may include the handling of intoxicating liquor or nonintoxicating beer for all purposes except consumption, sale at retail, or dispensing for consumption or sale at retail.
(d) Persons eighteen (18) years of age or older may, when acting in the capacity of a waiter or waitress, accept payment for or serve intoxicating liquor or nonintoxicating beer in places of business which sell food for consumption on the premises if at least fifty (50) per cent of all sales in those places consists of food; provided, that nothing in this section shall authorize persons under twenty-one (21) years of age to mix or serve across the bar intoxicating beverages or nonintoxicating beer.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 4-18
Text from Supplement 139 (September 3, 2026).
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.