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SB2452 • 2026

Alcoholic Beverages

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7 and Title 57, relative to events.

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Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Johnson, Vaughan
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Alcohol Rules for Events

This bill changes Tennessee laws to prohibit giving alcohol to those under 21 at private events and requires event owners or operators to provide proof of measures taken to prevent serving alcohol to minors.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes it illegal to give, serve, or hand out alcoholic drinks to anyone younger than 21 at a private party or event.
  • Requires the person in charge of an event where alcohol is served to show proof that they have taken steps to make sure no one under 21 gets alcohol.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who host private parties or events with alcohol
  • Event organizers and owners

Terms To Know

Private event
A gathering that is not open to the public, like a party at someone's home.
Owner or operator of an event
The person in charge of organizing and running the event.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what kind of proof is considered satisfactory.
  • It does not change laws about selling alcohol to people under 21 at stores or bars.
  • This bill has not yet been signed into law as of April 13, 2026.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB2341

Plain English: The amendment adds new rules for selling and consuming alcoholic beverages in specific event areas within large cities.

  • Defines 'premises' to include licensed establishments near events approved by special temporary ordinances in large metropolitan counties.
  • Allows the sale of alcohol in special cups designed for these events, which must be purchased from a designated permit holder.
  • Requires that only the organization named in the event ordinance can sell these special cups to licensed establishments.
  • The amendment does not specify all details about how these rules will be enforced or what happens if they are violated.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2452

Plain English: The amendment adds new rules for special event zones in large metropolitan areas of Tennessee where alcohol can be consumed outside licensed establishments during approved events.

  • Defines 'premises' to include central business improvement districts and public rights-of-way in certain counties with a population over 500,000.
  • Allows consumption of alcoholic beverages on these premises only for the duration of an event approved by a special ordinance.
  • Requires that alcohol be sold or served in specially designed cups during such events.
  • The amendment does not specify what happens if establishments do not comply with the new rules.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026

  2. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026

  3. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2026

  4. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  5. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/13/2026

  6. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/15/2026

  7. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/8/2026

  8. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  9. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 1 PNV 0

  10. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  12. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  13. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026

  14. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 4/1/2026

  15. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026

  16. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  17. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  18. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Approved by Delayed Bills Committee

  19. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  20. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  21. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  22. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Refer to Senate Delayed Bills Committee

  23. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  24. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2341
By Vaughan

SENATE BILL 2452
By Johnson
SB2452
012748
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7 and
Title 57, relative to events.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 57-4-101(o), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting:
(o) It is lawful to furnish, dispense, or give away alcoholic beverages and beer
without a license or permit issued by the commission at a private party or private event;
provided, that a person at such party or event shall not furnish, dispense, or give away
alcoholic beverages or beer to a person who is not twenty-one (21) years of age or
older.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 57-4-101(g)(2), is amended by
adding the following language at the end of the subdivision:
The owner or operator of the event shall submit with the request for approval for
the event proof satisfactory that the owner or operator has taken reasonable
steps to ensure that alcoholic beverages are not served to persons who are not
twenty-one (21) years of age or older in attendance at the event.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.