California Alcohol Servers Must Be Trained by August 31, 2022
The Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training Program Act of 2017 (AB 1221) rendered formerly voluntary training for alcohol beverage servers and their managers mandatory.
Existing servers and managers who check IDs, take orders, and pour or deliver alcoholic beverages on Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)-licensed premises must pass Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training and take the exam to be certified by August 31, 2022.
Persons newly becoming alcoholic beverage servers or managers have 60 days to receive their RBS certification.
The ABC has a three-step procedure for obtaining certification:
“1. Register with ABC as a Server on the RBS Portal
2. Take RBS training from an approved RBS Training Provider
3. Return to the RBS Portal to take ABC’s alcohol server certification exam.”
ABC Licensing Division Chief Jaime Taylor said: “The RBS training program is designed to provide licensees, managers, and servers with the tools and knowledge needed to promote responsible consumption, reduce youth access to alcohol, and make communities safe.”
Employers must pay for server and manager training and certification. Employing non-certified servers and managers after August 31 subjects an ABC licensee to discipline, ranging from a warning to license revocation.
Take-Away: If you run any ABC-licensed establishment with on-premises alcohol service, have your managers and servers complete RBS certification process by August 31, 2022.
For further information, please contact Tim Bowles, Cindy Bamforth or Helena Kobrin.
See also:
- Happier and Healthier – Workplace Policy Handbook & Forms for 2022 (April 29, 2022)
- Employee Training Programs – When Employers Must Compensate for Worker Education. (March 29, 2011)
Helena Kobrin
August 5, 2022