The Responsible Beverage Service Training Act, created after the passage of Assembly Bill 1221 in 2017, resulting in the requirement Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training approved by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). The purpose of the RBS Training Program is to provide alcohol servers with the skills needed to serve alcoholic beverages responsibly and reduce alcohol-related harm in the state of California.
As of July 1, 2022, all alcohol servers and their managers must complete Alcohol Server Training and have valid RBS Certification to legally serve alcohol in California. Completing Userve’s state-approved RBS Certification Training Program ensures these legal obligations are met.
Currently, RBS Training is only required if a local government mandates it. All on-premises alcoholic beverage servers and their managers in California must complete a state-approved RBS Training Course and have valid RBS Certification.
Those required to have a RBS Certification must complete Alcohol Server Training through an RBS Training Course. Once completed, ABC will administer the state RBS Exam. After completing the RBS Training Course and passing the state exam, individuals will remain certified for three years. This certification must renewed before its expiration to remain valid.
A business with an “ABC On-Premises License” allows the licensee to serve alcoholic beverages to customers who then consume the drink on-site. ABC licensees that must comply to the training mandate and ensure staff are RBS Certified include restaurants, bars, tasting rooms (including off-sale locations), fast casual dining, stadiums and hotels.
Alcohol Servers
According to Assembly Bill 1221, alcohol servers are staff who are responsible for any of the following duties:
Alcohol Server Managers
Managers are staff who directly hire, train or supervise alcohol servers at an ABC-licensed establishment. This includes people who provide alcohol service training for an ABC on-premises licensee, but excludes employees or contractors of a separate ABC licensee that trains alcohol servers specifically for marketing or distribution purposes.
Requirements for One-Day Licenses
Non-profit organizations that have acquired a temporary daily on-sale license or temporary daily off-sale license for an event must have at least one RBS-certified person on-site to oversee the alcohol service for the event. This designated person must have acquired their certification by the day of the event.
While certain roles are required to complete RBS Training, everyone working at a licensed business can contribute to ensuring safe alcohol service practices are met. We recommend that everyone from owners, managers and employees complete training so that all staff are familiar with alcohol service laws and regulations and have the tools they need to minimize safety risks and avoid alcohol service-related penalties.
ABC-licensed establishments must ensure that all alcohol servers and their managers have completed RBS Training and be certified. Businesses should maintain records of employee certifications. These records can be subject to inspection, upon request, by ABC.
Failing to comply with the mandate can result in disciplinary action. Licensed businesses can face a 10-day suspension if found in violation of the new requirement. The penalty can also vary based on the following factors:
This suspension must be served consecutively with any other alcohol service-related violations.
Ensure your licensed business is compliant with RBS Training requirements, including RBS Certificate renewal every three years. Userve’s RBS Certification Program is approved by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and provides alcohol servers with the required training to pass the state exam.
Avoid administrative penalties for your business and know that alcohol servers in your establishment have the knowledge they need to serve alcohol responsibly through our flexible and engaging RBS Training Course!