It depends on your state. There's no federal law preventing minors from buying non-alcoholic beer, but roughly 10 states explicitly prohibit sales to anyone under 21. In most states, there's no regulation at all, which means individual retailers decide whether to card you. Even where it's technically legal, many stores enforce 21+ policies anyway to avoid confusion and liability.
The short answer: unless you're in Michigan, Montana, Ohio, or Texas (where it's explicitly allowed), expect to get carded or turned away. Here's a full breakdown of the rules by state and why they vary so much.
Key Takeaways
- States set the rules. The U.S. government leaves most regulations about non-alcoholic beer to the states.
- State laws vary widely—and may change. As NA beer popularity surges, more states may clarify their restrictions on the age limit for non-alcoholic beer.
- "No regulation" doesn't mean "free access." It means it is not explicitly prohibited by state law, and retailers often set their own requirements.
- Check with your local retailer: To be safe, call your nearby shop. To find a retailer of NA beer near you, consult a source like NA Beer Finder.
Federal Regulations on NA Beer Sales
Federal laws in the U.S. govern alcoholic beverages at the industry level. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), the agency that enforces the laws regulating alcohol-related businesses, defines alcoholic beverages as beer, wine, and spirits that contain 0.5% or more alcohol by volume (ABV). Since non-alcoholic beers range from 0.0% to 0.5% ABV, they are exempt from federal alcohol tax and aren't expressly under the TTB's purview. The TTB and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) oversee the proper production and labeling of non-alcoholic beverages, but the rest—sales, distribution, age limits, establishment hours, and responsible consumption—is left to the states.Many States Don't Have Regulations for NA Beer (Yet)
While federal law dictates the minimum drinking age of 21 across all 50 states, since Prohibition ended in 1933, the regulation of alcoholic beverages has fallen to the states. For over 90 years, states have had their hands full with alcohol-related laws, from licensing and distribution to sales and product control. In comparison, the regulation of alcohol alternatives, such as NA beer and wine, is in its infancy in the U.S.
Many states have been slow to learn how to handle these products, even as demand surges. Industry sources, the Brewers Journal, and IWSR (the International Wine and Spirit Record) predict that the U.S. non-alcoholic beverage market will be worth close to $5 billion by 2028.
NA beer's popularity has grown so quickly that most states haven't had time to bring ideas to the table, let alone enact legislation. But that doesn't mean it's the Wild West out there. The absence of state regulation isn't a free ticket for retailers to sell non-alcoholic beer and wine to minors.
"No regulation" usually means it's technically not illegal to sell NA beer to someone under age 21, but individual shops can create and enforce their own restrictions.
State-by-State Regulations for Selling NA Beer to Minors
Learning a state's legal stance on non-alcoholic beer is not easy—and these rules are subject to change as state-level agencies incorporate these beverages into official policy. To compile our list, we reviewed state Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) websites, official state liquor licensing and control websites, and associations and agencies that promote safe and responsible drinking, such as teamcoalition.org and the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association. Here is what we found.
| Policy | States |
|---|---|
| No state regulation (retailer discretion) | Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
| No state regulation with additional caveats | California authorities strongly recommend that establishments not make sales to minors.
Illinois adds the restriction that NA beer products must be separated in shops from alcoholic beer products. Kansas restrictions on zero-alcohol cereal malt beverages may also limit the sale of alcohol-free beer to minors. Kentucky is considering regulation and generally treats the sale of NA beer the same as alcoholic beer, even without official restrictions in place. South Carolina rules about ABV and the definition of non-alcoholic are complex to navigate. |
| Illegal to sell to minors | Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota (0.5% ABV or higher), Missouri, Pennsylvania, West Virginia |
| Legal to sell to minors | Michigan (18+), Montana (0.5% ABV or lower), Ohio (18+, with retailer discretion), Texas (retailer discretion) |
| County-level regulation | Hawaii, Mississippi |
Find NA Beer Near You
Real-time NA menus.
Why Do So Many States Leave the Decision Up to Retailers?
Without state regulations in place, decisions are left to those at the point of sale—retailers and hospitality staff. Minors don't attempt to buy non-alcoholic beer from their state representative—they approach their local bar, brewery, restaurant, or shop.
And while it may seem that minors could expand a shop or restaurant's customer base, more often than not, these establishments are specifically not targeting the under-21 audience, for a host of reasons, some of which follow below.
Perception
An owner of a zero-proof shop recently told NPR that selling beer-like products to children is not the look he wants for his business. Adults are the primary target audience for NA beer, with NielsenIQ reporting that 92% of non-alcohol buyers also purchase beverages that contain alcohol. In addition, at a glance, it's not always easy to tell alcoholic beer from NA beers. By selling only to adults, sellers ensure there is no misinterpretation among their customer base.Potential Risk
While it's virtually impossible to become intoxicated by drinking non-alcoholic and alcohol-free beers, many retailers and hospitality businesses don't want to take any chances by selling anything that even looks like beer to a minor. From the perspective of many establishments with a liquor license, selling any alcohol-adjacent beverages to minors is a risk not worth taking. Enforcing age verification for NA beer helps prevent association with underage drinking and protects the business and its license.Prevention of Underage Drinking
A growing number of studies question the relationship between minors, NA beer, and alcoholic beer. A report in JAMA Pediatrics explored the availability of non-alcoholic drinks as early exposure and normalization of alcoholic beverages for those under 21. The potential "gateway" association is enough to make some sellers back off from participating in sales to minors.Consistency and Liability
Alcohol is a highly regulated industry that both retailers and hospitality establishments need to navigate every day. By establishing a single, clear policy across the board—card everyone, serve only patrons 21 and over—businesses eliminate confusion about non-alcoholic drinks. Where alcohol regulations are concerned, reduced confusion translates to reduced liability.Frequently Asked Questions About Buying Beer Under Age 21
What happens if a minor tries to buy NA beer?
Because regulations vary by state, consequences depend on where the minor is trying to purchase non-alcoholic beer. For instance, in states where it is not illegal for minors to buy NA beer, but retailers enforce their own policies, minors may simply be refused the sale. However, in states where non-alcoholic beverages are treated like alcoholic beverages, such as Pennsylvania, it is considered a crime that can lead to a penalty for the retailer and potential action against their liquor license. The minor attempting to make a purchase might also be subject to a penalty. To know for sure, contact your state's Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) office or inquire with a trusted retailer.Is non-alcoholic beer truly alcohol-free?
Non-alcoholic beer may contain trace amounts of alcohol, up to 0.5% by volume (ABV). In contrast, a standard alcoholic beer has 5.0% ABV—10 times that of an NA beer. So, if a beer is labeled "non-alcoholic," it may have up to 0.5% ABV. If you want a truly zero-alcohol beer, look for labels that say "alcohol-free," or better yet, "0.0%." These distinctions are important, especially for consumers avoiding alcohol altogether, such as those who are pregnant or have health conditions that require abstinence. Always check the ABV on the bottle label to confirm, and use a resource like NA Beer Finder to find alcohol-free options in shops and bars near you.Can minors drink NA beer in restaurants or bars?
Whether someone under 21 can drink non-alcoholic beer in restaurants or bars depends entirely on state rules. In some states, when accompanied by a parent or guardian, and if state and establishment rules allow, a minor may drink an NA beer. But even in states without regulation, some establishments may still card minors for non-alcoholic beer and refuse service. However, minors can generally order a non-alcoholic mocktail in most states, especially if the recipes don't include zero-proof alcohol products.Why do stores ask for ID for non-alcoholic beer?
Many retailers card for NA beer under 21 because they have a store policy against selling non-alcoholic beverages to minors. Most U.S. states leave restrictions on the sale of non-alcoholic beer to the seller. Non-alcoholic beer has skyrocketed in popularity, and demand is high. Even though states may not have regulations in place, most stores establish a consistent policy because they are at the point of sale, making decisions every day.Sources
- Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau: https://www.ttb.gov/about-ttb/glossary/glossary-a#
- History.com: https://www.history.com/articles/the-night-prohibition-ended
- Brewers Journal: https://www.brewersjournal.ca/2025/09/03/global-non-alcoholic-beer-market-set-for-robust-growth-projected-to-reach-usd-43-9-billion-by-2035/#
- IWSR: https://www.theiwsr.com/insight/key-statistics-and-trends-for-the-us-no-alcohol-market/
- Team Coalition: http://teamcoalition.org
- NABCA: https://www.nabca.org/structure-of-us-alcohol-regulation
- NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/07/09/nx-s1-5033083/non-alcoholic-beer-wine-mocktails-age-limits
- NielsenIQ: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/insights/report/2025/non-alcohol-is-no-longer-a-niche-its-a-billion-dollar-movement/
- JAMA Pediatrics: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2820956
- Law Justia: https://law.justia.com/codes/pennsylvania/title-18/chapter-63/section-6310-7/#
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/standard-drink-sizes/index.html
- Brewers Association: https://www.brewersassociation.org/association-news/the-2025-year-in-beer/
- CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/20/health/age-restrictions-nonalcoholic-drinks-kids-wellness
