Fla. Stat. 562.13
Employment of minors or certain other persons by certain vendors prohibited; exceptions


(1)

Unless otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful for any vendor licensed under the Beverage Law to employ any person under 18 years of age.

(2)

This section shall not apply to:Professional entertainers 17 years of age who are not in school.Minors employed in the entertainment industry, as defined by s. 450.012(5), who have either been granted a waiver under s. 450.095 or employed under the terms of s. 450.132 or under rules adopted pursuant to either of these sections.Persons under the age of 18 years who are employed in drugstores, grocery stores, department stores, florists, specialty gift shops, or automobile service stations which have obtained licenses to sell beer or beer and wine, when such sales are made for consumption off the premises.Persons 17 years of age or over or any person furnishing evidence that he or she is a senior high school student with written permission of the principal of said senior high school or that he or she is a senior high school graduate, or any high school graduate, employed by a bona fide food service establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold, provided such persons do not participate in the sale, preparation, or service of the beverages and that their duties are of such nature as to provide them with training and knowledge as might lead to further advancement in food service establishments.Persons under the age of 18 years employed as bellhops, elevator operators, and others in hotels when such employees are engaged in work apart from the portion of the hotel property where alcoholic beverages are offered for sale for consumption on the premises.Persons under the age of 18 years employed in bowling alleys in which alcoholic beverages are sold or consumed, so long as such minors do not participate in the sale, preparation, or service of such beverages.Persons under the age of 18 years employed by a bona fide dinner theater as defined in this paragraph, as long as their employment is limited to the services of an actor, actress, or musician. For the purposes of this paragraph, a dinner theater means a theater presenting consecutive productions playing no less than 3 weeks each in conjunction with dinner service on a regular basis. In addition, both events must occur in the same room, and the only advertised price of admission must include both the cost of the meal and the attendance at the performance.Persons under the age of 18 years who are employed in places of business licensed under s. 565.02(6), provided such persons do not participate in the sale, preparation, or service of alcoholic beverages.

However, a minor who qualifies for one of the exceptions in this subsection may not be employed as or perform as a professional entertainer or otherwise if such employment involves nudity, as defined in s. 847.001, on the part of the minor and such nudity is intended as a form of adult entertainment, or be employed by an adult entertainment establishment, as defined in s. 847.001.

(a)

Professional entertainers 17 years of age who are not in school.

(b)

Minors employed in the entertainment industry, as defined by s. 450.012(5), who have either been granted a waiver under s. 450.095 or employed under the terms of s. 450.132 or under rules adopted pursuant to either of these sections.

(c)

Persons under the age of 18 years who are employed in drugstores, grocery stores, department stores, florists, specialty gift shops, or automobile service stations which have obtained licenses to sell beer or beer and wine, when such sales are made for consumption off the premises.

(d)

Persons 17 years of age or over or any person furnishing evidence that he or she is a senior high school student with written permission of the principal of said senior high school or that he or she is a senior high school graduate, or any high school graduate, employed by a bona fide food service establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold, provided such persons do not participate in the sale, preparation, or service of the beverages and that their duties are of such nature as to provide them with training and knowledge as might lead to further advancement in food service establishments.

(e)

Persons under the age of 18 years employed as bellhops, elevator operators, and others in hotels when such employees are engaged in work apart from the portion of the hotel property where alcoholic beverages are offered for sale for consumption on the premises.

(f)

Persons under the age of 18 years employed in bowling alleys in which alcoholic beverages are sold or consumed, so long as such minors do not participate in the sale, preparation, or service of such beverages.

(g)

Persons under the age of 18 years employed by a bona fide dinner theater as defined in this paragraph, as long as their employment is limited to the services of an actor, actress, or musician. For the purposes of this paragraph, a dinner theater means a theater presenting consecutive productions playing no less than 3 weeks each in conjunction with dinner service on a regular basis. In addition, both events must occur in the same room, and the only advertised price of admission must include both the cost of the meal and the attendance at the performance.

(h)

Persons under the age of 18 years who are employed in places of business licensed under s. 565.02(6), provided such persons do not participate in the sale, preparation, or service of alcoholic beverages.

(3)(a)

It is unlawful for any vendor licensed under the beverage law to employ as a manager or person in charge or as a bartender any person:
Who has been convicted within the last past 5 years of any offense against the beverage laws of this state, the United States, or any other state.
Who has been convicted within the last past 5 years in this state or any other state or the United States of soliciting for prostitution, pandering, letting premises for prostitution, keeping a disorderly place, or any felony violation of chapter 893 or the controlled substances act of any other state or the Federal Government.
Who has, in the last past 5 years, been convicted of any felony in this state, any other state, or the United States.

The term “conviction” shall include an adjudication of guilt on a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or forfeiture of a bond when such person is charged with a crime.

This subsection shall not apply to any vendor licensed under the provisions of s. 563.02(1)(a) or s. 564.02(1)(a).

(3)(a)

It is unlawful for any vendor licensed under the beverage law to employ as a manager or person in charge or as a bartender any person:Who has been convicted within the last past 5 years of any offense against the beverage laws of this state, the United States, or any other state.Who has been convicted within the last past 5 years in this state or any other state or the United States of soliciting for prostitution, pandering, letting premises for prostitution, keeping a disorderly place, or any felony violation of chapter 893 or the controlled substances act of any other state or the Federal Government.Who has, in the last past 5 years, been convicted of any felony in this state, any other state, or the United States.

The term “conviction” shall include an adjudication of guilt on a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or forfeiture of a bond when such person is charged with a crime.

1. Who has been convicted within the last past 5 years of any offense against the beverage laws of this state, the United States, or any other state.
2. Who has been convicted within the last past 5 years in this state or any other state or the United States of soliciting for prostitution, pandering, letting premises for prostitution, keeping a disorderly place, or any felony violation of chapter 893 or the controlled substances act of any other state or the Federal Government.
3. Who has, in the last past 5 years, been convicted of any felony in this state, any other state, or the United States.

(b)

This subsection shall not apply to any vendor licensed under the provisions of s. 563.02(1)(a) or s. 564.02(1)(a).

Source: Section 562.13 — Employment of minors or certain other persons by certain vendors prohibited; exceptions, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0562.­13 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

562.01
Possession of untaxed beverages
562.02
Possession of beverage not permitted to be sold under license
562.03
Storage on licensed premises
562.06
Sale only on licensed premises
562.07
Illegal transportation of beverages
562.11
Selling, giving, or serving alcoholic beverages to person under age 21
562.12
Beverages sold with improper license, or without license or registration, or held with intent to sell prohibited
562.13
Employment of minors or certain other persons by certain vendors prohibited
562.14
Regulating the time for sale of alcoholic and intoxicating beverages
562.15
Unlawful possession
562.16
Possession of beverages upon which tax is unpaid
562.17
Collection of unpaid beverage taxes
562.18
Possession of beverage upon which federal tax unpaid
562.20
Monthly reports by common and other carriers of beverages required
562.23
Conspiracy to violate Beverage Law
562.24
Administration of oaths by director or authorized employees
562.25
State bonded warehouses
562.025
Possession of beverages as food ingredients
562.26
Delivering beverage on which tax unpaid
562.27
Seizure and forfeiture
562.28
Possession of beverages in fraud of Beverage Law
562.29
Raw materials and personal property
562.30
Possession of beverage prima facie evidence
562.31
Possession of raw materials prima facie evidence
562.32
Moving or concealing beverage with intent to defraud state of tax
562.33
Beverage and personal property
562.34
Containers
562.35
Conveyance
562.36
Beverage on conveyance prima facie evidence
562.38
Report of seizures
562.41
Searches
562.42
Destruction of forfeited property
562.44
Donation of forfeited beverages or raw materials to state institutions
562.45
Penalties for violating Beverage Law
562.46
Legal remedies not impaired
562.47
Rules of evidence
562.48
Minors patronizing, visiting, or loitering in a dance hall
562.50
Habitual drunkards
562.51
Retail alcoholic beverage establishments
562.61
Sale, offer for sale, purchase, or use of alcohol vaporizing devices prohibited
562.061
Misrepresentation of beverages sold on licensed premises
562.111
Possession of alcoholic beverages by persons under age 21 prohibited
562.112
Alcohol-related or drug-related overdoses
562.121
Operating bottle club without license prohibited
562.131
Solicitation for sale of alcoholic beverage prohibited
562.165
Production of beer or wine for personal or family use
562.408
Exercise of police power
562.451
Moonshine whiskey
562.452
Curb service of intoxicating liquor prohibited
562.453
Curb drinking of intoxicating liquor prohibited
562.454
Vendors to be closed in time of riot
562.455
Adulterating liquor

Current through Fall 2025

§ 562.13. Employment of minors or certain other persons by certain vendors prohibited; exceptions's source at flsenate​.gov