The Henry County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution at its Jan. 8 meeting allowing employees 18 years of age or older to dispense, serve, sell or take orders for alcoholic beverages in licensed establishments.
County Attorney Patrick Jaugstetter told the commissioners that the move puts the unincorporated county in line with state law, and that all four of the county’s cities already have the age-18 minimum as do all adjoining counties. County officials and some local business owners said the change will “level the playing field” and help restaurants in the unincorporated county keep employees from moving to nearby jurisdictions to make more money.
Jaugstetter added that the county’s entire alcoholic beverage ordinance, which was written in the 1980s, will need to be studied and brought up to date in the coming months.
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