Training Requirements

The Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training Program is intended to mitigate alcohol-related harm in local communities caused by underage drinking and the overuse of alcohol, and is required for all alcohol servers.

Alcohol Service

Regulations define an alcohol server as a person who serves alcoholic beverages for consumption, or a person who manages or supervises that person, on premises licensed to serve alcoholic beverages. Tasks qualifying a person as a server of alcohol include:

  • checking patron identification
  • taking patron alcoholic beverage orders
  • pouring alcoholic beverages for patrons
  • delivering alcoholic beverages to patrons

You'll need RBS training/certification if you hold one of these positions:

  • a manager who hires, trains, or oversees staff who serve alcohol
  • a bartender or server/waitstaff who takes customer orders for, pours, or delivers alcoholic beverages
  • security personnel/bouncer or other staff who checks customer ID for purposes of alcoholic beverage service or entry to a licensed establishment

An alcohol server employed by an ABC-licensed establishment has 60 calendar days from the official start date of their employment (the date the employee signs an employment contract or employee tax and identification documents, whichever is sooner) to obtain an alcohol server certification.