REQUIRED – Alcohol Certification Course

Posted on Jun 8, 2022

REQUIRED AUGUST 31, 2022, all servers and managers who handle alcohol in California to obtain a RBS certificate.

This Bill’s intent is to educate food service employees on how alcohol influences behavior, to outline legal issues that may arise in an alcohol-related incident, and to teach methods to identify signs of intoxication and prevent over-serving.

The new law goes into effect on July 1, 2022, and by August 31, 2022, every alcohol server and their managers must be trained under Assembly Bill 1221 and Assembly Bill 82. AB 1221 defines an alcohol server as anyone that is employed at an ABC on-premises licensed establishment who is responsible for checking identifications, taking customer orders, and pouring or delivering alcoholic beverages.

Alcohol servers and their managers must have a valid Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) certification from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). If they are newly hired, they must pass the exam and be certified 60 days from the first date of employment.

ABC created the RBS training portal. The portal provides access to an alcoholic beverage training service and certification program to address the requirements of AB 1221.

RBS Training and Certification is a Three-Step process:

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

The portal allows servers and managers to complete these steps. They can register as a server, search for training providers, and complete the exam all in one place.

“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,” said Licensing Division Chief Jaime Taylor.

Alcohol servers and their managers play an important public safety role. Over 9,000 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in California between 2009 and 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A Rutgers University study shows some states that implemented responsible beverage service laws saw a drop in deaths involving underage drinking drivers.

Oregon was the first state to adopt a mandatory alcohol server program in 1986, and by 1989 single-vehicle-nightime crashes were reduced by 23 percent according to a joint study by the Prevention Research Center and University of Minnesota. By working with approved training providers, ABC hopes to reduce incidents like these, as well as other alcohol-related harm.

There are multiple training providers available. Below are links to two options for approved RBS training courses:

– California Restaurant Association
– ABC Server Training