The South
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
Waiting tables in the South may not be as lucrative as other parts of the country. But its beauty, hearty distinctive cuisine and spirits might make you forget that your working in mostly smoke filled restaurants or in a region, best described as the $2.13 per hour wasteland. Most of the southern states do not have minimum wage laws, so it is the Federal sub minimum wage that usually applies.
While many other states in the country have created higher minimum wages for servers, the South lags behind. According to the Dept of Labor, some of the lowest wages for servers in the entire country can be found here. Statistically, Most servers head to Florida, where a robust tourist industry offers higher wages and a higher sub minimum wage ($4.23 pr hr) and where the high season starts in the fall and continues through the winter. For most other parts of the the region, the fall is typically the high season and the summer the low season when high humid temperatures and Tornado/hurricane season keeps tourism at a low.
And old sentiments of the prohibition era can be found here, resulting in a odd mismatch of dry counties weaved through a region also dotted with drive up liquor stores. Most alcohol control is done at the county level and so serving alcohol may require several certifications and/or training depending on how many county lines you cross.
Also, the Nations’ first tobacco fields were first grown commercially in South- so its not surprising that these southern states are still far behind the Nation’s other states in Tobacco Control and smoke free restaurants. If you don’t want to work around second hand smoke- head to Florida.
ALABAMA
Wait population 27,940
WAGE
State does not have a minimum wage law. Federal Min applies $2.13 for tipped workers
Median Wage:$7.06 hr/$14,700 yr
Serving Alcohol
Generally 21; 19-20 year olds can serve at restaurants only if the establishment has complied with the requirements of the Responsible Vendor Service program.
Re-Corking: State laws do not allow patrons to take home wine purchased with a meal.
Serving Hours: Not after 2am on Sunday unless allowed by local ordinances. On other days, alcohol may be served 24 hours unless restricted by local ordinance or regulation
Tobacco Control
Restaurants are allowed to set up smoking areas and are not required to put up any physical barriers. Areas desginated as smoking or non smoking must prominently display “No smoking” or “Smoking Permitted” signs, but specific size is not stated. Smoking is permitted in bars and lounges. For a complete listing of municipalities in the state with 100% smoke free laws in restaurants, go to www.no-smoke.org
Links
Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
334-271-3840
Alabama Dept of Labor
334-242-3460
www.alalabor.state.al.us
Wage & Hour
www.dol.gov/esa/contacts/whd/america2.htm
ARKANSAS
Wait Population 17,360
Wage
State minimum wage: $6.25
State Server Sub minimum cash wage $2.63
Median Wage: $7.49 hr/$15,400 yr
Serving Alcohol
21 to serve in Dry Counties (33)
18 to serve in Wet Counties (42)
Check with local ordinance
Tobacco Control:
The Clean Indoor Act of 2006, effective July 30, 2006 prohibits smoking in restaurants. Restaurants and bars however, can permit smoking if no patrons below the age of 21 are served at the establishment. For a complete listing of municipalities in the state with 100% smoke free laws inside a restaurant, go to www.no-smoke.org.
Links:
Arkansas Alcohol Beverage Control
501-682-1105
Arkansas Dept of Labor
501-682-4541
www.arkansas.gov/labor
Wage &Hour
www..dol.gov/esa/contacts/whd/america2.htm
FLORIDA
Wait Population 202,720
WAGE
State minimum wage $7.25
State Server sub minimum wage $4.23
Median Wage: $8.84 hr/ $18,400
Serving Alcohol
18 to serve
Re-Corking: State laws does not allow patrons to take home wine purchased wih a meal.
Serving Hours: Local option
Tobacco Control
Smoking is prohibited in the indoor portions of restaurants.(2003) Bars are exempt from the smoke free requirements.
Links:
Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco
850-488-3227
Florida Dept of Labor
850-245-7105
www.floridajobsorg
www.MyFlorida.com
Wage & Hour
www.dol.gov/esa/contacts/whd/america2.htm
ROC-Miami Powerful advocacy group for restaurant workers offering free job training, ESL classes and more
Contact: john@rocunited.org 786-394-0199
GEORGIA
Wait Population 65,950
WAGE
State Minimum Wage : Does not have State minimum wage laws and exempts tipped employee law.
Median Wage: $7.41 hr/$15,400 yr
Serving Alcohol:
18 to serve (note: ages can be raised via local ordinances)
Re-Corking: Patrons are allowed to take wine home when purchased with a meal.
Serving Hours: Local Option ordinance
Tobacco Control:
Designated smoking areas required or allowed.
Smoking is allowed in restaurants and bars that do not admit or employ people under 18 years old. For a complete listing of municipalities in the state that have 100% smoke free laws in restaurants, go to www.no-smoke.org
Links:
Georgia Alcohol & Tobacco Division
404-417-4900
Georgia Dept of Labor
404-656-3011
www.dol.state.ga.us
commissioner@dol.stat.ga.us
Wage & Hour
www.dol.gov/esa/contact.whd.america2.htm
KENTUCKY
Wait Population 30,160
WAGE
State minimum wage $7.25
State Server sub minimum wage $2.13
Median Wage: $15,000 yrl
Serving Alcohol:
20 to serve
Re-Corking: State laws do not allow patrons to take home wine purchased with a meal
Serving Hours: M-S: Local option can set hours between 6AM-Midnight. Sun: Local ordinance may vote to permit Sunday sales.
Tobacco Control:
None at the state level. For a complete listing of municipalities in the state that have 100% smoke free laws in restaurants, visit www.no-smoke.org
Links:
Alcoholic Beverage Control
502-564-4850
Kentucky Dept of Labor
502-564-3070
www.labor.ky.gov
Wage & Hour
www.dol.gov/esa/contact.whd.america2.htm
LOUISIANA
Wait population 33,420
WAGE
State Minimum wage: State has no minimum wage laws- Federal applies $2.13
Median Wage: $15,000 yr
Serving Alcohol:
18 to serve, must be server trained every 2 years, Cost $25
Re-Corking: State law allows re-corked wine to be taken out after dining.
Serving Hours: Local Option
Tobacco Control:
No smoking restrictions at the state level. For a complete listing of municipalities in the state with 100% smoke free laws for restaurants, go to www.no-smoke.org.
Louisiana Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control
225-925-4041
Louisiana Dept of Labor
225-342-3111
www.laworks.net
Wage & Hour
www.dol.gov/esa/contact.whd.america2.htm
ROC-New Orleans – Advocacy group for restaurant workers offering free job training, ESL Classes and more…
Contact: rocnola@gmail.com 504-821-7044
MISSISSIPPI
Wait population 15,880
WAGE
State minimum wage: The state does not have a minimum wage law. $2.13
Median Wage: $14,700 yr
Serving Alcohol:
18 to serve
Re-Corking: State laws do not allow patrons to take home wine purchased with a meal.
Serving Hours: M-S: 10am to Midnight Sundays: Prohibited. (unless allowed by local jurisdiction.
Tobacco Control:
No statewide smoking ban for restaurants although there is a smoking ban for most public places, as of July, 1 2006. For a complete listing of municipalities in the state that prohibit smoking in restaurants visit www.no-smoke.org
Links:
Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control
601-856-1301
Mississippi Dept of Labor
601-321-6100
www.mdes.ms.gov
Wage & Hour
www.dol.gov/esa/contact.whd.america2.htm
NORTH CAROLINA
Wait population 72,600
Wage
State minimum wage: $7.25
State Server Sub minimum wage $2.13 *Tip credit is not permitted unless the employer obtains from each employee, monthly or for each pay period, a signed certification of the amount of tips received.
Median Wage: $7.42/$15,400 yr
Serving Alcohol
18 to serve
Re-Corking: If the establishment has an off-premises permit, then the patron can take an opened bottle of wine home by corking it. Otherwise the patron is prohibited from re-corking. Also, re-corked wine must be transported in a vehicle compartment inaccessible to the driver.
Serving Hours: M-Sat 7am-2am Sunday: Noon-2am with a mixed beverage or brown bagging permit.
Tobacco Control
No restrictions at the state level. For a complete listing of municipalities in the state with 100 % smoke free laws in restaurants, visit www.no-smoke.org
Links
Alcoholic Beverage Control:
919-779-0700
North Carolina Dept of Labor
919-733-0359
www.nclabor.com
Wage & Hour
www.dol.gov/esa/contact.whd.america2.htm
SOUTH CAROLINA
Wait population 38,030
WAGE
State does not have any minimum wage laws. $2.13 Federal
Median wage: $14,900 yr
Serving Alcohol
18 to serve
Re-Corking: No state law prevents a patron from removing the open container from the restaurant. It is also legal to have the open container in a car as long as it is in the trunk or luggage compartment.
Serving Hours: M-S: 24 hours for beer and wine, 10 am to 2 am for liquor, cease at midnight Saturdays. Sun: Local option Election day sales are prohibited.
Tobacco Control
None at the state level. Localities are preempted from imposing local smoking bans. For a complete listing of municipalities in the state with 100% smoke free laws in restaurants, visit www.no-smoke.org
Links
Dept of Revenue & Taxation
803-898-5864
South Carolina Dept of Labor
803-896-4300
www.llr.sc.state.us
Wage & Hour
www.dol.gov/esa/contact.whd.america2.htm
TENNESSEE
Wait population 50,730
WAGE
State does not have minimum wage laws. Federal minimum wage applies at $2.13 for servers
Serving Alcohol
18 to serve and alcohol server training permit required every 5 years, cost $50.00
Re-Corking: Patrons are allowed to take wine home when purchased with a meal.
Serving Hours: M-S 8am-3am Sun: 10am-3am
Tobacco Control
Non-smoker Protection Act became effective Oct 1, 2007. Under the law, smoking is prohibited in all enclosed public places including restaurants. Open air patios, porches or decks are exempt from the ban, but smoke from these areas must not infiltrate into areas where smoking is prohibited. Smoking is also allowed in venues that restrict access to persons who are 21 years of age or older at all times.
Links
Alcoholic Beverage Commission
1-888-206-3333
Tennessee Dept of Labor
615-741-6642
www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd
Wage & Hour
www.dol.gov/esa/contact.whd.america2.htm