I own a casual fine dining small bistro and wine bar and have had some problems finding qualified and experienced servers lately. However, I have had a couple of eager 19 and 20 year old applicants apply who have restaurant experience and who quite frankly know more about wine than many of my current servers.
As a guest, would you have an issue with a minor describing wines or suggesting their favorites to you if you found out they were under 21 and ‘legally’ can’t drink wine? (the applicants have tried wines with their parents, or so they say…as long as its not in my restaurant it doesn’t matter to me where they have had wine tastings! 
Would you discredit them even if they are knowledgeable because of their age?
Bottom line, if you were my customer, would you advise me to hire them or hold out longer for someone who is over 21??
Thanks for any insights!
P.S. it IS legal in Indiana for anyone 18+ to SERVE alcohol with a simple permit (which i, of course, would require)…it’s just not legal to DRINK the alcohol….so legal issues aren’t an issue! I’ve got those covered!
Chapman
I would suggest that you hold out until you find a qualified applicant over 21. Being under 21, most places, it is against the law for them to handle alcoholic beverages of any kind.
I would not feel comfortable having an underage waitstaff serving me.
I feel that it would be too much of a problem because of the legal problems that could arise.
Good luck!!!!
Comment by jan — January 26, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
Well, i don’t drink wine, but as long as they know what they’re talking about and are good servers than I don’t see a problem with it. Just make sure that they don’t serve any police officers or whatever. Other than that, I’d go for it. Good luck!
Comment by redneckgal — January 26, 2008 @ 9:26 pm
I would not mind at all. You have some future sommeliers in your midst. I say hold on to them.
Oddly enough, most people have drank more when they were under 21 than when they were over.
Comment by mys_phit — January 30, 2008 @ 12:27 am
I say hire them… I love places that have great service. I say as long as there are no laws against minors serving alcohol, hire them!
Comment by M-26 — January 30, 2008 @ 11:04 pm
I would feel…old
Comment by ClCl — January 31, 2008 @ 9:49 pm
Dude quit the store shesh how simple. i aint gunna tangle ma mind in that.
Comment by ms.breeze16 — January 31, 2008 @ 11:16 pm
How would I know that these people are under 21? Who cares how old they are as long as they can answer my questions.
Comment by maigen_obx — February 1, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
Not a problem here! I used to work in a gourmet restaurant in IL where the servers just did not pour the wine but they could serve it. They were all knowledgeable. Everything on the up and up, I definitely would order from an under 21 year old! Hire away! They grow up to be great servers!
Comment by Suzieq — February 2, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
as long as they know what they are talking about, that is all that matters. servers don’t wear a name tag saying “hi my name is _ i’m 18 years old”. so it doesn’t matter.
Comment by emilymcquagge — February 5, 2008 @ 3:17 am
If they are qualified, by all means hire them. When I eat out, which is often, I don’t care who the server is as long as they are clean, knowledgeable, pleasant, and give good service.
Comment by curious connie — February 8, 2008 @ 7:11 am
I say hire the most qualified applicant regardless of age. You may instruct them to say things like these wines are recommend by the house or the owner suggest the blah blah blah. Instead of them saying they recommend something personally. I don’t think any one would notice or have a problem with it.
Comment by momofhay — February 9, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
If the applicants are as professional and knowledgeable as you describe your guests are not going to care or know how old they are. Unless your are in such a small town that everyone know everyone your guests will not know how old your servers are. It is none of their business and as someone who works in the industry it just doesn’t get asked by guests. Also it has been my observation while working in restaurants that is is nearly impossible to tell how old someone is when in the 18- 28 or so range. Some older people don’t always act or look their age and many younger people who are mature enough are often mistaken for being many years older.
I should point out that if you don’t hire them due to their age especially after you admitted that they are more knowledgeable about wine than some of your current employees then you are discriminating based on age.
Bottom lin, if they are the best applicants you have had, and it sounds from your tone that they impressed you, then hire them.
Comment by grishnak — February 12, 2008 @ 10:32 am