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DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL

R.B.S - Responsible Beverage Service Training Provider Program

    Program Overview

    The Responsible Beverage Service Training Provider Grant Program has just been launched. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has launched this new grant program to update standards for Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) programs used to train people who sell or serve alcoholic beverages in California. A coalition including representatives from non-profit agencies, the hospitality industry, education and ABC have begun the work of updating training standards that can help reduce alcohol-related injuries and deaths in the State of California.

    In order to increase safety and reduce tragedies, the two-year grant pulls together experts who review and update standards for Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) program curriculum. The programs will have consistent guidelines to teach the proper way for businesses to sell alcohol in the State of California. The guidelines are based on research findings and model RBS training programs with demonstrated effectiveness. There is a focus to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors and prevent the service of alcoholic beverages to obviously intoxicated persons.

    The standards created by this grant will be used by the Department’s Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs Program (LEAD) and private vendors who provide RBS training. The LEAD Program educates businesses on laws involving the sale and service of alcoholic beverages, free of charge. Last year, over 19,000 alcohol industry employees were trained in this program.

    Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) is a community-based approach to reducing risks associated with retail alcohol environments. RBS has three essential elements: Alcohol policy for the alcoholic beverage licensed establishment; Server education and oversight; and Partnerships with law enforcement, other local agencies and community groups.

    RBS Training Educational Objectives

    • Improve public health and safety.
    • Establish a higher professional standard for hospitality service.
    • Improve the business viability of responsible establishments.
    • Support quality of life in the neighboring community

    Best Practices

    The Levels of Training, Training Standards, and Learning Objectives recommendations provided in this pamphlet are considered Best Practices as based on published research conducted by experts in the field of server training.

    These recommendations are required as a pre-requisite to obtaining RBS Training Provider certification as an approved training provider for the purposes of mitigation pursuant to Rule 144, Title, 4, Division 1, of the California Code of Regulations

    Mitigation Process and Documentation

    In order for licensees to be eligible to receive mitigated penalties, they must provide proof of successful completion of a certified RBS Training Program by the involved server/seller at the time of Notification of Violation interview. Such training must have been successfully completed prior to the date of violation(s) resulting in disciplinary action.

    The training Provider shall give a Training Certificate to each training recipient and will maintain a record of all persons trained.

    Each training recipient who successfully completes the certified RBS training program will receive a training certificate. Training certificates will expire two years after the date of the training. Training recipients must re-take the training program every two years for the licensee to maintain eligibility to receive mitigated penalties.