Tennessee requires a server permit for employees of on-premise licensees (restaurants, bars, hotels, and other places licensed to sell liquor, wine, or high-gravity beer for consumption on site) whose duties directly or indirectly involve selling, serving, or dispensing alcohol.
Positions that need a permit
| Position | Permit? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Server | Yes | Takes orders for and serves alcohol |
| Bartender | Yes | Pours and sells alcohol |
| Barback | Yes | Directly supports alcohol service |
| Manager, assistant manager | Yes | Supervises alcohol service |
| Host, busser | Usually no | Unless they also serve or run drinks |
| Kitchen staff | Usually no | No role in alcohol service |
When in doubt, look at what the person actually does on a busy night, not their job title. A host who runs drinks during a rush needs a permit.
Age minimums
Applicants must be at least 18. At a venue that permits smoking, the minimum age to serve is 21.
Who can't get one
Approved courses are required to tell students up front about the things that can disqualify an applicant, including certain recent felony convictions, recent alcohol, controlled-substance, or sex-crime convictions, and a server permit revoked within the last five years. The state makes the final call on every application.
Beer-only venues
Places that sell only regular beer are permitted by their local beer board, not TABC, and the board sets its own requirements. Check with your city or county.
Keeping it straight on your roster
In EasyABC TN, each position is marked as requiring a card or not. People in positions that don't require one stay on the roster for free and never count toward your bill, so the list matches your schedule and nobody who needs a card slips through.
Common questions
Do managers need an ABC card in Tennessee?
Yes. Managers and assistant managers at an on-premise licensee need a server permit, because their duties affect the sale and service of alcohol.
Do barbacks need a server permit?
Yes. Barbacks support alcohol service directly, so they need a permit like bartenders do.
Do hosts or kitchen staff need one?
Generally no, as long as their duties don't include selling, serving, or dispensing alcohol. If a host also runs drinks, they need a permit.
Sources
- TABC: Server permits (tn.gov/abc)
- TABC Rule Chapter 0100-08, Rules for Professional Alcohol Server Training
This page explains the rules in plain language. It is not legal advice, and EasyABC TN is not affiliated with the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.