# R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-4: Drinking by or hiring of underage persons

> Rhode Island · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-4

## Section

- **Citation:** R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-4
- **Heading:** Drinking by or hiring of underage persons
- **Jurisdiction:** Rhode Island
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** RI Code / Title 3 / Chapter 3-8 / Section 3-8-4

## Text

(a) Use of a credit card for the purchase of beverages may be permitted by all classes of license holders and, notwithstanding the purchase of alcoholic beverages by credit card, license holders shall not sell or furnish beverages to any person who has not reached his or her twenty-first (21st) birthday to drink any beverage upon any licensed premises.

(b) Licensees shall not hire any persons who have not reached their eighteenth (18th) birthday to sell or serve beverages in any place where those beverages may be consumed on the premises where sold.

(c) License holders may enforce a prohibition against any patron who has not reached his or her twenty-first birthday from entering the licensed establishment after ten o€™clock (10:00) p.m..

## Nearby sections

- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-1 § 3-8-1. Sales on Sundays and holidays €” Sales to underage persons, intoxicated persons, and persons of intemperate habits.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-1.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-2 § 3-8-2. Age restriction for bartenders.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-2.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-3 § 3-8-3. Suspension of license for employment of underage bartender.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-3.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-4 § 3-8-4. Drinking by or hiring of underage persons.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-4.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-5 § 3-8-5. Penalty for violations relating to underage persons.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-5.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-5.1 § 3-8-5.1. Compliance check.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-5.1.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-6 § 3-8-6. Unlawful drinking and misrepresentation by underage persons €” Identification cards for persons twenty-one and older.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-6.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-6.1 § 3-8-6.1. Identification cards for persons under the age of 21.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-6.1.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-6.2 § 3-8-6.2. Unlawful use of identification cards.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-6.2.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-6.3 § 3-8-6.3. Manufacture or distribution of fraudulent identification cards or licenses to operate a motor vehicle.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-6.3.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-9 § 3-8-9. Transportation of alcoholic beverages by underage persons.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-9.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-10 § 3-8-10. Possession of beverage by underage persons.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-10.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-11.1 § 3-8-11.1. Furnishing or procurement of alcoholic beverages for underage persons.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-11.1.md)
- [R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-8-11.2 § 3-8-11.2. Penalty for violation of § 3-8-11.1.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-11.2.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_RI_T3_C3-8_S3-8-4. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.