This page will help you understand Ohio alcohol laws and avoid expensive fines or even jail. Not to mention time and…. embarrassment.
Ohio alcohol laws apply to both residents and visitors. So knowing them is wise.
OVERVIEW
I. Minimum Ages
II. Other Ohio Alcohol Laws
III. Resources
IV. Get Legal Advice
I. Minimum Ages
Young people often want part-time jobs. Many jobs are in hospitality. Some involve working with alcohol. Youths want to know if they are old enough for them. What’s the minimum age to serve alcohol in a restaurant? What’s it for tending bar? And what about for selling alcohol for use elsewhere?
Ohio alcohol laws permit adults 19 years or older to serve alcohol in venues for on-site use. And the same age for those who sell beer “across a bar.” But to sell wine or spirits, a bartender must be at least 21 years of age.
Myth

This distinction is based an old myth. It’s that wine and distilled spirits (liquor) are more alcoholic than beer. This is false. Standard drinks of beer, wine and spirits have the same amount of pure alcohol. It’s six-tenths of an ounce. They’re all the same alcohol-wise.
To sell alcohol for use elsewhere, the age is adulthood. That is, age 18 or older.
Those of any age under 21 may drink with a parent or guardian present. They may also drink with their legal-age spouse. And they may drink for legally defined religious, educational, or medical purposes.
It’s also illegal to allow a person under 21 to remain in one’s property while possessing alcohol. Of course, that doesn’t include one’s own offspring. There is no legal provision to ensure the safety of those expelled.
Those under 21 may not buy alcohol. But they may buy to help police entrap clerks. The use of a false ID to buy alcohol is a crime.
It is illegal for those under 21 to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over 0.02%.
II. Other Ohio Alcohol Laws
A. Selling Alcohol
It’s illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 or to intoxicated persons. In addition, bars can’t legally to give free beer.
Licensed businesses may serve alcohol from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday. With a special Sunday license they may serve 1:00 p.m to 2:30 a.m. on that day.
Those selling for off-site use may do so from 5:30 am to 1:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday. With a Sunday license they may sell from 1:00 p.m to 1:00 a.m. on that day.
Grocery stores, drug stores, and other licensed retailers may sell beer and wine. Yet only state government monopoly stores sell distilled spirits. So selection is poor and prices are high.
Local laws (local option) can restrict when businesses can sell or serve alcohol. They can and do occasionally prohibit the sale of any alcohol.
B. Buying Alcohol
The penalty for illegal possession or drinking by minors is $250 maximum fine and/or up to 30 days jail. Minors are non-adults. That is, those age 17 or below.
For adult offenders under 21 the penalty is a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 180 days in jail. First offenders may have the option of entering into a diversion program. If the violation occurred as a passenger in a motor vehicle, the court may suspend the offender’s license.
The penalty for giving alcohol to anyone under 21 is a $1,000 fine and/or up to six months in jail. In addition, people may sue the offender if the underage person hurts themselves, someone else, or damages property. Of course, parents and guardians can give alcohol to their own offspring of any age.
Open Container Laws
It’s illegal to have an open alcohol container on public property, regardless of age. Ohio deems public property very, very broadly. A court may consider places that are visible, easy accessible, and open to the public to be public property.
This also means that sports fans may not legally “tailgate” in a public parking lot.
C. Driving and Alcohol
See Also
How Long Does Alcohol Stay in Your Body?
(In)Accuracy of Breathalyzers.
14 Tips to Avoid a DWI or DUI Conviction.
Avoid Unjust Conviction for DWI or DUI Charges
It’s illegal for anyone age 21 or older to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. For those under 21, including adults, it’s 0.02%. It would be 0.00% except for several facts.
One is that breathalyzers lack reliability. A second is that everyone produces alcohol in their bodies 24/7. A third is that many medications and food contains alcohol. Even fruit juices develop alcohol if left in a refrigerator too long.
You might enjoy these.
Famous People Arrested for Drunk Driving.
Drivers Under Age 21
A second conviction leads to a mandatory driver’s license suspension of at least 90 days. Additional fees are likely. And penalties increase with additional convictions.
Drivers Age 21 and Older
Any conviction for driving with a BAC over 0.17% has longer imprisonment. Also, the fines can be as high as $10,500.
First Offense with BAC 0.08% to 0.17%
Second Offense Six Years with BAC 0.08% to 0.17%
The penalties include license suspension for one year. Jail for ten days to under six months. However, the court may require jail along with house arrest using an alcohol monitoring system. The fine is between $500 and $1,625. License suspension is for one to five years. Also, vehicle impoundment is for 90 days. Finally, there is alcohol and drug assessment.
Third Offense within Six Years BAC 0.08% to 0.17%
Offenders having convictions five times within 20 years appear on the Habitual Offender Registry. In addition, the public can see the offenders’ names, dates of birth, home addresses, and conviction records.
Other Driving Laws
It’s also against Ohio law to loan a vehicle to person with a suspended driver’s license. The state’s penalty for doing so is to suspend the offender’s license.
It is illegal to carry previously opened containers of alcohol in a vehicle except in the trunk.
Driver Right
If the driver uses the right within six years, the suspension is for two years. Should the driver again use the right within another six years the suspension is for three years. Also, a fourth use within six more years leads to a five year suspension.
Field Sobriety Tests
However, these punishments do not apply to refusing to do a field sobriety test. These tests are highly subjective and unreliable. In fact, about one-third of people with a 0.00% BAC fail.
For that reason, lawyers strongly advise against ever taking a field sobriety test. Taking one can never help clear a person. So lawyers say never take one. Learn more at Never Take a Field Sobriety Test.
D. Boating and Alcohol
For those 21 or older having a BAC of 0.08% or higher is being under the influence. Or it’s having drugs affect them to the extent they can’t operate safely. That’s very subjective. And it’s in the mind of the arresting officer.
Convictions lead to fines and possible time in jail.
Some boaters use their Constitutional right and decline a BAC test. In that case, they may not operate on the water for one year. If the person is the owner of the craft, the state keeps the registration certificate and tags.
III. Resources on Ohio Alcohol Laws
IV. Advice on Drinking Laws in Ohio
Ohio alcohol laws can change. So can county and local laws. They can conflict. Also, they can confuse. That is why lawyers study law for years. It’s not do it yourself. Never rely on this site. Nor on any other site. The stakes are too high.
So get advice about Ohio alcohol laws from an expert. That is a lawyer holding a license in the state. Alcohol attitudes and criminal justice practices vary widely across the state. So it’s a good idea to select one in your locality.