Why do restaurants (those that serve booze) in DE have stop signs on the front doors? (Middletown: lawyer, purchase)

[wichaelalone]

While on the other hand, liquor stores have the exact same signs, BUT with the fine print reading "do not enter if under legal drinking age"? What's the point of restaurants having these signs if alcohol is only a small part of the menu? After an incident my son had at an NC ABC store, and having heard from a lawyer what has happened when minors have entered DE liquor stores (they have been fined for up to $500 with NO intent whatsoever to make an illegal purchase attempt), shouldn't the state keep these signs OFF the entrances to restaurants? Someone under 21 who frequents restaurants in the state will learn to ignore these signs, but then end up ignoring one at the wrong liquor store, without happening to see the very fine print with the words "do not enter..."

[newmassphd]

I am also curious about liquor stores that sell non-alcoholic items such as
soft drinks (soda, chips, tonic water) as well as an array of those syrup mixes.

Perhaps this scenario is stretching a bit, but if a minor enters a liquor store
with the intent to purchase soda, chips and perhaps a syrup mix, will
he or she be fined for treating the liquor store as a kind of local convenience
store?

[rdlr]

The Answers:

: : FAQs - DATE : :

[pete lynch]

it is a criminal offense for a person under 21 years of age to enter or remain on the premises of a tavern, taproom or liquor store. However, a person under 21 years of age may be on the premises of a taproom, if patrons under 21 years of age are physically segregated from patrons over 21 years of age, or if the taproom has received prior approval from the abc commissioner's office to hold an event on the premises that is exclusively for patrons under 21 years of age.

A person may be any age to enter a restaurant. However, a restaurant is permitted to deny entrance to a person under 21 years of age after 9 p.m. If they are not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

hth

[longnecker]

What is strange to me a person under 21 can obtain an ABC card and serve you alcohol in a restaurant but can not enter the liquor store.

[Sandee1213]

I was very surprised with all the rules related to alcohol in De. You do need to be 19 to serve alcohol and 21 to bartend, but you need to have your ABC card. I learned a lot taking ABC class.

[Kristin730]

I never knew this -- and I've taken my (4- and 6-year-old) sons into liquor stores. At what age is that no longer permitted?

[doctorjef]

I've never even noticed these signs.

[Sandee1213]

Minors are allowed in liquor stores with an adult up until the age of 13 (I think) I was amazed with all of the rules.

: : FAQs - DATE : :

[Bac0s]

Originally Posted by Kristin730

I never knew this -- and I've taken my (4- and 6-year-old) sons into liquor stores. At what age is that no longer permitted?

I was thinking the same thing... the one I go to in Middletown has lollipops at the cash register for kids. Glad to know it's 13ish!