Could minors be allowed to serve alcohol in Saskatchewan?

In this June 29, 2004 file photo, a bartender serves two mugs of beer at a tavern in Montpelier, Vt. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)

One of the province’s largest tourism associations is lobbying the province to change liquor laws to allow anyone 14-and-up to deliver alcohol to customer tables.

Hospitality Saskatchewan registered to lobby the provincial government on Monday, with the intention of highlighting the significant labour shortages the industry is facing, and how a tweak to liquor laws could greatly help businesses.

“The available labour pool across Canada has really seen a shift,” Hospitality Saskatchewan CEO Jim Bence said. “And in provinces that are smaller — 1.5 million people or less -- we’re really the canaries in the coal mine.”

• Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device

Bence says a number of factors are contributing to labour challenges. A federal cap on immigration has led to fewer international students seeking employment in the service industry, and hotel restaurant management programs across the country are closing under less demand.

“We need to look at almost every opportunity to employ somebody and have them work in our establishments,” he said.

Hospitality Saskatchewan says the larger centres are faring better than smaller or rural communities, which may only have one person 19 and older on staff.

Current liquor laws don’t allow minors to bring alcoholic beverages to a customer’s table or clean tables if an unfinished drink is left behind.

“They can really use a hand, right down to whether it’s clearing tables, clearing bottles, or even expediting drinks to a table,” Bence said. “It really would give them a big leg up in just being able to service the customers that they have.”

With discussions just beginning, any changes would be months or even years away. The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) and Labour Relations and Workplace Safety would need to approve the change in regulations, with the Ministry of Justice also needed for any potential legislative changes.

“We’re appreciative of the fact that both (SLGA and Justice) have been interested in further conversations, whether it will go anywhere or not remains to be seen, but we’re hopeful,” Bence said.

The changes could offer a boost to youth out there struggling to find employment. A new Statistics Canada report shows the youth unemployment rate is far outpacing the national average.

Canada’s unemployment rate for 15- to 24-year-olds rose to 14.1 per cent in February, up from 13.3 per cent at the end of 2025. That makes the youth unemployment rate more than double the national average of 6.7 per cent in February, which was a slight 0.1 per cent decrease from December 2025.

-With files from Daniel Otis