This is a supplement to the training materials presented in the Affordable Alcohol Training Responsible Beverage Service Education Program and must be reviewed.  

Wyoming’s Liquor Authority

Wyoming’s Governing Liquor Authority:

• The State of Wyoming’s governing liquor authority is the Department of Revenue Liquor Division.
• The phone number for the Liquor Division is: (307) 777-7231.
• The website for the Liquor Division is: http://eliquor.wyoming.gov/.
• Wyoming’s Legislature is the body responsible for enacting the state’s alcohol laws.
• Responsible alcohol service training is voluntary. Division approved training courses must be at least four hours in length.  Servers become certified after they have successfully completed a division approved training course and have passed the required exam. Servers must be re-certified every three years. Instructors must be re-certified annually by taking a division approved training course.
• Posting of alcohol warning signs is not a state requirement.

• Wyoming is a control state:

• The state government controls the sale and distribution of alcohol.
• The Liquor Division’s primary functions are:

o        Monitoring and enforcing the state’s alcohol laws.

o        Conducting business as the exclusive wholesaler of alcohol throughout the state.

o        Licensing malt beverage wholesalers and industry representatives.

• The Liquor Division does not issue liquor licenses. Instead, a local licensing authority issues liquor licenses. However before a local licensing authority approves or denies a license, the Liquor Division must review all liquor license applications for state law compliance.

Wyoming’s Local Licensing Authorities:

• For an incorporated city or town: the City or Town Council grants or denies the liquor license.
• For an unincorporated city or town: the Board of County Supervisors grants or denies the liquor license.

Liquor License and Alcohol Beverage Laws for the State of Wyoming

Wyoming’s Liquor Division requires:

• Licensees to uphold all the liquor laws for the state of Wyoming.

• Licensees to also be knowledgeable of and abide by any local ordinances as well.

Under Wyoming’s Alcohol Laws:

• There are no specific state laws regarding happy hour, drink specials or promotions.
• Licensees may provide a combination of food and drink for a special price.

Identification

Acceptable forms of identification in Wyoming are:

• Drivers License (50 states)
• State ID
• Military ID
• Passport
• Selective Service Registration Card

Wyoming’s Laws Regarding Age

Under Wyoming law:

• A person must be at least 21 years old to purchase and consume alcohol.

• It is illegal to sell or serve alcohol to a minor.
• The legal age to serve alcohol is 21 years of age. However, minors between the ages of 18-20 may be employed to serve alcohol in the designated dining area of a licensed establishment only.
• Minors are not allowed to enter or remain in a licensed dispensing room. Exception is made if all of the following conditions are present:
  • The minor is in the company of a parent or legal guardian.
  • It is before 10pm.
  • The licensed establishment includes a designated dining or waiting area.
  • The local licensing authority approves.

• Minors are only allowed in package liquor stores when they are in the company of a parent or legal guardian. (Must be approved by the local licensing authority.)

Dram Shop Laws for the State of Wyoming

Dram Shop Liability:

• Limited liability applies in Wyoming.
• Licensees and their employees can be held liable for serving a minor who is not a family member.
• Licensees and their employees can also be held liable for serving a habitual drunkard if written notice has been provided to the licensee that the person has a drinking problem.

ADDENDUM: WYOMING’S DRAM SHOP LAW

DAMAGES

12-8-301. Limitation of Liability

(a)     No person who has legally provided alcoholic liquor or malt beverage to any other person is liable for damages caused by the intoxication of the other person.

(b)     This section does not affect the liability of the intoxicated person for damages.

(c)     This section does not affect the liability of the licensee or person if the alcoholic liquor or malt beverage was sold or provided in violation of title 12 of the Wyoming statutes.

(d)     For purposes of this section “licensee” is as defined in W.S. 12-1-101(a)(viii) and includes the licensee’s employee or employees.

12-5-502. Liability for sale to child, ward or habitual drunkard when written notice thereof given. If any court, parent or guardian gives written notice to any licensee that his or her child or ward is under the age of twenty-one (21) years, or any spouse or dependent gives written notice to a licensee that his or her spouse or person liable for the support of the dependent is an habitual drunkard and by reason of habitual drunkenness is neglecting to provide support for the spouse or dependent and the licensee or permittee so notified thereafter sells or gives any alcoholic liquor or malt beverage to the child, ward or habitual drunkard, the person giving the notice may bring an action in district court, against the licensee and upon proof of acts stated in the notice recover in the action the actual damages sustained, punitive damages and costs.

12-6-101. Sale or possession prohibited; when possession unlawful; public drunkenness; falsification of identification; penalty; prima facie identification as defense. (a) Any person who sells, furnishes, gives or causes to be sold, furnished or given away any alcoholic liquor or malt beverage to any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years, who is not his legal ward, medical patient or member of his own immediate family, is guilty of a misdemeanor. This subsection does not apply to sales by the commission or a wholesaler to a licensee under this title.