Responsible Beverage Service training became mandatory on July 1st, 2022 for all on-premise alcoholic beverage servers and managers. To be certified, servers and managers must take an Alcoholic Beverage Control-approved RBS training program and an exam within 60 days of initial employment. After 60 days, if this training has not been completed, it will be illegal for the server or manager to serve alcoholic beverages. Obviously, if this affects you, your loved ones, or your business, you should carefully research RBS training in California and learn where to get it, or else you might be looking for a new job.
What Does RBS Training Cover?
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act contains 375 rules and regulations governing serving alcoholic beverages. It goes from the basics, such as checking ID and knowing when to refuse service, to the specifics of how the rate of alcohol absorption is affected by proof in a beverage. The test requires RBS training to take, and the training and test are to ensure that servers and managers understand the legalities of serving drinks.
Who Needs RBS Training in California?
Bar staff, drink servers, vendors, security staff, alcohol sellers, and anyone designated as an alcohol-serving establishment manager needs RBS training and certification. The ABC enforces the certification requirement in which the penalty for a first-time offender is a 10-day suspension of the employer’s liquor license. This requirement includes staff at wineries, distilleries, brewpubs, stadiums, bars, and restaurants. The training is a three- to four-hour self-paced course that bartenders, waitstaff, and their managers must take to pass the exam. The exam cannot be attempted without training from an ABC-certified RBS training program in California.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act designates an “alcohol server” as anyone who:
- Checks customer identification for purposes of alcoholic beverage entry
- Takes alcoholic beverage orders
- Pours alcoholic beverages
- Delivers alcoholic beverages to customers
What Is the Goal of RBS Training?
The goal of RBS training is to provide servers, waitstaff, and managers with the knowledge to curb the effects of underage drinking and the overuse of alcohol. Our program covers the consequences of over-serving a patron and intervention techniques that staff can use when dealing with an over-inebriated customer.
How Does It Work?
After purchasing our RBS training program for $12.50, employees must register with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Department with a $3 fee to receive a Student ID. After course completion, employees have 30 days and three attempts to pass the exam with a minimum score of 70%. If a minimum score of 70% isn’t achieved within three attempts, RBS training must be re-taken to retake the exam.
Protect California’s Communities
Servers who can identify when a customer comes into an establishment already inebriated and identify people who have been served enough alcohol play a vital role in protecting California’s communities. While most establishments had previously lacked formal training and rules around over-serving, RBS training provides the guidance and framework for all employees who handle alcoholic beverages. This means everyone will be working within the law and can keep patrons within safe limits.