June 2022

Program updates from the Responsible Beverage Service Training Program (RBSTP) team including RBS training languages, FAQ updates, ABC’s online services, and online licensing services statistics.

General Program Update

We are less than one month away from RBS training and certification for on-premises alcohol servers and their managers becoming mandatory. The Department has been working diligently on making sure that our licensees, servers, and community partners are aware of the new law and are working to promote training and certification information to those who need to be RBS trained and certified by the August 31, 2022 deadline. The Department has developed our informational multi-language flyer on the RBS requirements.

RBS training and certification is a three-step process:

  1. Register with ABC as an alcohol server (this includes the managers of alcohol servers) on the RBS Portal.
  2. Take RBS training from an ABC Approved Training Provider.
  3. Take our alcohol server certification exam on the RBS Portal.

The exam is currently available in English, Spanish, and Korean languages. The Department is in the process of making the exam available in Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Hindi, and Punjabi.

RBS Training Offered in Languages other than English and Spanish

The RBSTP is still accepting and processing RBS training provider applications. If minimal to no edits are required, the estimated time for approval is 8-12 weeks. Foreign language course approvals can take longer. We are currently in the process of approving online programs in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Korean. We are looking to provide additional RBS Courses both online and in-person for non-English language servers. Persons and parties interested in becoming a Department authorized RBS training provider may contact rbstp@abc.ca.gov for more information.

To date, we have 40,087 alcohol servers trained and certified in RBS. We also have 44 approved training providers and RBS programs (30 online, 13 in-person, 1 in-house, 3 foreign language: Spanish).

Frequently Asked Questions

 The Responsible Beverage Service Training Program (RBSTP) has updated our RBS frequently asked questions as a way to better acquaint our valued stakeholders and community partners with the requirements for RBS training and certifications. Please take time to review our updated response to our frequently asked questions.

ABC’s Online Services are Now Available!

The Department is mailing out letters to licensees announcing the release of ABC’s online services. The letters include information on how to create license administrator accounts and provides licensees with a validation code for their license number. Please see our license administrator frequently asked questions for more specific details.

Online Licensing Services Statistics

ABC launched online licensing services on September 22, 2021, with the ability to make online license renewal payments. We have expanded licensing services to now provide the services essential to RBS training and certification. To date, we have successfully processed 10,282 ABC license renewal payments.

Need Assistance with RBS or Online Licensing Services?

Servers and Licensees are encouraged to contact their local district office for assistance.

Contact

For alcohol server registration assistance or general assistance with RBS contact:

Online Services
Phone: (916) 318-6435
Email: onlineservices@abc.ca.gov

Translation Services
Email: eeo@abc.ca.gov


For training provider assistance or questions about RBS requirements contact:

RBSTP Team
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: rbstp@abc.ca.gov

January  2022

Program updates from the Responsible Beverage Service Training Program (RBSTP) team including the 2021 year in review and reminders regarding certificates, paying for RBS training, and training confirmation (exam access).

Program Update

Happy New Year! The Responsible Beverage Service Training Program (RBSTP) team would like to wish all of our training providers, servers, licensees, and stakeholders a prosperous and safe 2022!

2021 Year in Review

RBSTP had a busy 2021 that included the launch of our online training provider application on February 23, 2021 (and the Department’s ability to take its first online payment); the Go-Live of compliant server training on April 5, 2021; and the approval of our first online Spanish language RBS training program on December 17, 2021.

To date, we have 7,076 alcohol servers that have been trained and certified in RBS. We also have 26 approved training providers and RBS programs (17 online, 7 in-person, 1 in-house, 1 foreign language: Spanish).

Spanish Language Programs and Spanish Language Exam

RBSTP approved their first online Spanish language RBS training course on December 17, 2021. The alcohol server certification exam is also available in Spanish. We will be approving more Spanish language programs as they are received and processed. The external Approved Training Provider list on the RBS Portal landing page is updated daily at 3:00 a.m. PT.

We are also accepting other foreign language RBS training course applications in addition to Spanish.  If you know a foreign language training provider who has an RBS course or would be interested in developing one, please have them email us at rbstp@abc.ca.gov.

Update to Online Training Provider API

Beginning on February 9, 2022, an updated API for our approved online training providers will be available. GET and POST method parameters are being updated to provide better search result returns.

Training Providers Can Still Apply

An estimated 1,000,000 servers in California will need to be RBS trained and certified by August 31, 2022. There are currently 7,076 certified alcohol servers in the RBS Portal.  If you teach a responsible beverage service training course in California and are not yet approved by the Department, we want you to apply to become an authorized training provider. We strongly encourage non-profit training providers to submit their applications to ensure that RBS training is available and accessible to all servers. For more information on becoming an authorized training provider, please email us at rbstp@abc.ca.gov.

Reminders Regarding Certificates, Paying for RBS Training, and Training Confirmation (Exam Access)

We will not be issuing physical or downloadable certificates of completion. Upon completion of training and the certification exam, the alcohol server will be issued a certification number which is valid for three years. The alcohol server certification number is recorded on the Alcohol Server’s Dashboard in the training history at the bottom of the page of the RBS Portal. Licensees will be able to verify that their servers are RBS certified using the (certification number and the server’s name) as we get closer to the legal requirement for the mandatory statewide training.

Servers must pay $3.00 to the Department as part of their server registration in the RBS Portal. This fee is non-refundable. Additionally, servers may also need to pay a separate fee to the authorized RBS training provider that they select. The cost of RBS training varies depending on the authorized training provider. Questions about training costs, including corporate or group pricing, must be directed to the training provider.  

Training providers have up to 24 hours following training to update a server’s training status in the RBS Portal. Servers whose training status has not been updated within 24 hours of the completed training must follow up with the training provider. When following up with the training provider, the server should be prepared to provide their server ID number. The server ID number is located in the upper left of the server’s dashboard in the RBS portal in the table that reads Server Certificate Details. When emailing the customer service for the training provider, it is encouraged that rbstp@abc.ca.gov is copied in the email. One of the most common reasons why a training provider can be delayed in confirming the server’s training in the RBS Portal is that the server’s last name and server ID number as provided to the training provider do not match what is listed in the RBS Portal. The training provider will reach out to the server to obtain the correct information. Once the correct information is obtained, the training provider will confirm the date training was taken in the RBS Portal, and the server will be granted access to the alcohol server certification exam.

Important Dates

July 1, 2022 – AB 1221 (Responsible Beverage Service Training Program Act) goes into effect. RBS training for alcohol servers and the managers of alcohol servers for ABC On-Premises licensed establishments becomes mandatory.

ABC On-Premises Licensees have 60 days from July 1, 2022, to have their staff trained and certified by an approved RBS training provider. This includes the successful completion of an ABC administered RBS exam.

September 1, 2022 – Enforcement of AB 1221 may begin.

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to email us at rbstp@abc.ca.gov.

Contact

For alcohol server registration assistance or general assistance with RBS contact:

Online Services
Phone: (916) 318-6435
Email: onlineservices@abc.ca.gov

Translation Services
Email: eeo@abc.ca.gov


For training provider assistance or questions about RBS requirements contact:

RBSTP Team
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: rbstp@abc.ca.gov

August  2021

Program updates from the Responsible Beverage Service Training Program (RBSTP) team including the release of the online training provider API and the Department’s search for foreign language RBS training providers.

General Program Update

We currently have 20 RBS training programs approved. There are 13 online courses, 5 in-person courses, and 2 in-house course approved. Approved courses are available on the RBS Portal Landing Page.

There are currently 4529 alcohol servers/managers of alcohol servers registered in our RBS Portal. 2211 are now certified, meaning they have completed RBS Training from one of our Department approved training providers and have passed the Department’s alcohol server certification exam with a 70% or better.

Online Training Provider API for Approved Training Providers is Now Available

The online training provider API is now available for approved RBS online training providers. It is accessible from the provider’s dashboard via the Developers Tool link. For more information on the online training provider API please do not hesitate to email us at rbstp@abc.ca.gov.

Hablamos Español y tu?

The RBSTP team is looking for foreign language training providers interested in creating and teaching an RBS training program. Our alcohol server certification exam is currently available in both English and Spanish languages. We want to offer RBS training courses in a language other than English in the near future. By July 1, 2022, we will need to have at least a Spanish language online and a Spanish language in-person RBS training course approved and available to the public.

If you or someone you know teaches a foreign language RBS Training program, please encourage them to apply via the RBS Portal.

As a Reminder

We are using digital certificates for alcohol servers who have completed training and passed the alcohol server certification. The Alcohol Server training certificate is recorded on the Alcohol Server’s Dashboard in the training history at the bottom of the page of the RBS Portal. Upon completion of training and the certification exam, the alcohol server will be issued a certification number, and that will serve as their training certificate and is valid for three years. The digital certificates are housed in the RBS Portal and will be available for review by the server’s employer as we get closer to the legal requirement for the mandatory statewide training.

Training providers have up to 24 hours to confirm Server Training in the RBS Portal. If it has been more than 24 hours since the server has completed training, we encourage the server to contact the training provider and follow-up with why their training has yet to be confirmed. When following up with the training provider, the server should have their server ID number (the server’s server ID number is located in the upper left of the server’s dashboard in the RBS portal in the table that reads Server Certificate Details), If emailing the customer service for the training provider, it is encouraged that rbstp@abc.ca.gov is included in the CC.

Important Dates to Remember

  • July 1, 2022 – AB 1221 (Responsible Beverage Service Training Program Act) goes into effect and RBS training for alcohol servers and the managers of alcohol servers for ABC On-Premises licensed establishments becomes mandatory.
    ABC On-Premises Licensees have sixty (60) days from July 1, 2022 to have their staff trained and certified by an approved RBS training provider. This includes the successful completion of an ABC administered RBS exam.
  • September 1, 2022 – Enforcement of AB 1221 begins.

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to email us at rbstp@abc.ca.gov.

Contact

For alcohol server registration assistance or general assistance with RBS contact:

Online Services
Phone: (916) 318-6435
Email: onlineservices@abc.ca.gov

Translation Services
Email: eeo@abc.ca.gov


For training provider assistance or questions about RBS requirements contact:

RBSTP Team
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: rbstp@abc.ca.gov

May 2021

Program updates from the Responsible Beverage Service Training Program (RBSTP) team including alcohol server FAQs and important dates to remember.

Answering Server FAQs

The Server functionality of the RBS Portal is now fully operational! To date we have 638 registered servers and 187 servers who have completed training and the alcohol server certification exam!

With the implementation of the Server functionality, we have received several frequently asked questions about certificates, how to search for training providers, how to find your server identification number, and how to access the alcohol server certification exam. This month’s program update will focus on addressing those frequently asked questions.

How do I find my Server ID number?

There are two ways you can locate your server ID number. The first is by way of the registration message that is sent via the RBS Portal. To access the message, click on the envelope icon, the message will be titled Enrollment Registration Completed. The second way you can see your Server ID number on your Server Dashboard; it will be in the first box with your Server Details.

How do I search for a training provider?

Select Search from the “Training Provider Search” on your RBS Server dashboard to see a list of all available training providers. Use the filters to narrow your search results. If you do not see any training providers, try using fewer filters. You may need to move down the page to see your search results.

How do I access my alcohol server certification exam?

The training provider from whom you took training has up to 24 hours to report you have completed training and grant access to the exam. You will receive an email from ABC/RBS Portal notifying you that your exam is ready.

If it has been more than 24 hours, you may reach out to the training provider who provided your course and inquire as to when your exam access may be granted.

How do I get a copy of my RBS certification?

ABC is not issuing physical or downloadable RBS certificates. Once you complete training and pass your ABC Alcohol Server Certification Exam, your status on your RBS Server dashboard will be updated to Certified. Your Server ID number and status are located in the “Server Certificate Details” box on your RBS Server dashboard.

For more frequently asked questions for Servers, Licensees, and Training Providers please visit the FAQs on our website. If you don’t see the answer to your question in our FAQs please email us at rbstp@abc.ca.gov.

Important Dates to Remember

  • July 1, 2022 – AB 1221 (Responsible Beverage Service Training Program Act) goes into effect and RBS training for alcohol servers and the managers of alcohol servers for ABC On-Premises licensed establishments becomes mandatory. ABC On-Premises Licensees have sixty (60) days from July 1, 2022 to have their staff trained and certified by an approved RBS training provider. This includes the successful completion of an ABC administered RBS exam.
  • September 1, 2022 – Enforcement of AB 1221 begins.

Contact

For alcohol server registration assistance or general assistance with RBS contact:

Online Services
Phone: (916) 318-6435
Email: onlineservices@abc.ca.gov

Translation Services
Email: eeo@abc.ca.gov


For training provider assistance or questions about RBS requirements contact:

RBSTP Team
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: rbstp@abc.ca.gov

AB 1221 Effective Date

As a reminder, when is the course certification required for servers?

The law goes into effect on July 1, 2022.

ABC as a Training Provider

So since ABC is offering a similar RBS Training Course, why do you need Training Providers?

ABC will not be offering an RBS training course, as we will be acting as the accreditation agency. Our LEAD program is being modified into a training program that will be specific to off-sale licensees.

Additional Fees

Is there any fee related with the servers reporting data to ABC?

No, there are no additional fees associated with when a training provider reports that a server has completed their training course. Upon registration, a server will pay $3.00 for their first three attempts to pass the certification exam.

Alternative Ways to Pay

How will County funded programs be able to pay ABC if credit cards are not available?

We are looking into alternative payment methods for these situations. However, at this time, we can only take payment via our pay portal, which requires a credit card with the Mastercard or Visa logo.

Certification Processes

Who will deliver the certificates to the learners? Will that be delivered by ABC or us?

ABC will be issuing the server their unique certification number once they have successfully passed the alcohol server certification exam. The server will be able to view this status upon login. The training provider is issuing the certificate of completion for training.

Clarification on Training Provider Requirements

Did I see that RBS trainers cannot be involved in creating the RBS course for their particular organization?

No, the exclusion is for anyone involved in creating our alcohol server certification exam or if the training provider company was acting as an accreditation agency.

Copy of the PowerPoint to be made Available

Will this deck be available after the call?

Yes, to obtain a copy of the PowerPoint used during the Zoom meeting, please email rbstp@abc.ca.gov.

Course Requirements

Does the course require restrictions that prevent the user from moving forward without completing each task within the course?

The course may not be a “click-through,” meaning that a server must be actively engaged in the training course. It is up to the training provider to determine how the server will navigate their training course.

For eFiles, will that be for supplementary info only, or the course itself will need to be uploaded? What if the program file needs an LMS to operate?

The course in its entirety will need to be uploaded into the application. The program file types are outlined in the Training Provider Instructions that will be provided to you.

What info will need to be obtained?

Please see section 168 of our regulations for what information is required for an RBS course.

I noted during the review of the application that you requested a cost associated with the course; do you have a recommended pricing structure?

We are not regulating the cost of the course.

Must the curriculum be completely done before we apply as an online trainer?

Yes.

What course documentation needs to be included in the application if the training is online?

Please refer to section 168 of our regulations for what is required for submission of the Training Provider Application. Any and all materials intended for use in, during, or after the course will need to be submitted for review and approval.

Can we customize the content of the mandatory topics and subtopics for a specific industry (winery specifics, brewery specific, restaurant specific, etc...) as long as we include all the material?

Yes, so as long as all of the required curriculum elements are included in the course.

Course Types

Are all platforms approved for delivering training, i.e., a phone app versus web site…and if so, is it a separate fee for the same course on a different platform or delivery system?

We differentiate courses as online or in-person and by language. Training on a mobile phone app would qualify as an online course.

Currently Approved Programs

Are there currently any approved applications, or will all approved providers be publicly released at the same time?

Currently, no one is approved as a Department authorized training provider under AB 1221. There will be a group release for the first wave of training providers approved just prior to the Server release. The rest will be granted approval as their applications are approved.

Curriculum

Are you providing a curriculum?

No, we are providing the curriculum outline and the items required to be taught, but the training providers will be creating their own programs based on our requirements.

Where can we get the curriculum?

The curriculum requirements are listed in sections 162-166, and our available regulations on our website.

Discount for Nonprofits

Is there a discount for nonprofits?

No. 

Exam

Will we get a copy of the exam?

No. The exam is proprietary to ABC. However, the exam was designed using the required curriculum and does not include any information outside of the curriculum standards as provided in the regulations.

How quickly will students have access to the exam upon completion of the training? Is there a maximum timeframe that a training provider has to confirm a server has completed training?

Access to the exam is immediate once the training provider has confirmed that the server has completed their training course in the RBS portal.

How much does it cost to take the exam? How much will it cost for the server/manager to take the exam?

The cost of the exam is $3.00; it is included as part of the alcohol server’s registration into the RBS portal. The server has three attempts to pass the exam before retaking the training and paying $3.00 for the exam.

Does the state directly collect the $3 fee from the student when they register?

Yes.

How will you (or should we?) guarantee the identity of the course taker is the one who takes the exam? Is it possible to sit for the exam without taking a course?

The server cannot take the certification exam without completing training from an authorized training provider. The training provider is only granting servers who have completed their training course access to the exam. In order to give the server access to the exam, the server will need to be registered in the RBS Portal before taking training.

Fingerprinting Process

Will fingerprinting happen through CA ABC and the portal? Or will the outside vendor be used?

LiveScan and/or fingerprint cards will be sent to their intended users after the training provider has submitted their application.

Do we have to come to California to get fingerprints for the state level?

Fingerprinting can be done outside of California, similar to the fingerprinting process for ABC Licensees.

Do the business owners and their employees need to be fingerprinted or just the business owner?

Section 168.2 outlines who qualifies as needing to be fingerprinted for your business entity. The training provider must provide a valid fingerprint record of each owner and officer of the applicant to the Department.

How long do we have to get the fingerprint?

The fingerprinting process will be initiated once your application is assigned to an analyst for review. Your analyst will send you the appropriate fingerprinting information based on your residency.

Can we go ahead and get the fingerprint sheets so we can have that done?

No. The fingerprinting process will be initiated once your application is submitted and appropriate fingerprint fees have been paid.  Your assigned analyst will send you the appropriate fingerprinting information based on your residency.

Government Entities as a Training Provider

Can a County government entity be a training provider?

Yes. We have created a Government entity application for those who qualify as a government entity and are applying to be a training provider.

If a Server Fails the Exam

What if the student fails the exam? Will the trainer be notified so they can reset course?

The server will have three attempts to pass the exam.  If the server fails the exam three times, they will be locked out of the exam. The server will need to retake the training and repay $3.00 for the exam.

Licensee as a Training Provider

As a business, can we register our employees for the exam once we've completed their classroom training?

If you are an ABC licensee who is also acting as an authorized training provider, then yes, you may confirm that your servers have completed training. Servers will need to register themselves in the RBS Portal before taking the training.

Are all owners of an LLC required to take the course, or just the manager?

All owners of an LLC will need to be fingerprinted if they are also applying to be an authorized training provider. If that company is also an ABC licensee, then any member who makes decisions or policies around alcohol service would need to be trained and certified in RBS (see definition of a manager of alcohol server).

Maximum Number of Training Provider Applicants

How many providers are you looking for?

There is no limit to the number of approved Department authorized RBS training providers. 

Online Program

Can the training course be 100% online with no in-person/virtual instruction?

Yes, as long as it meets the course requirements outlined in section 161 of the regulations.

Previous RBS Certification

What about those who have already received a permit?

Anyone who has previously been trained in RBS will need to take training from a Department authorized training provider and pass the alcohol server certification exam.

Program Length Requirements

Is there the option to offer the program in English only? Or are English and Spanish required at a minimum?

Yes, you may offer your training course in any language you desire.

Is there a time requirement for the course?

No.

Is there a timeline to complete the course once started, i.e., 30 days?

No, we are not regulating the length of time it takes to complete a training course. That would be up to the training provider on how they wish to conduct their business.

Should the course be timed? Does the course have to be completed within a certain time?

We are not regulating the length of time that a program lasts.  Based on the required course content, we estimate an average course to be between 3-4 hours, but each training provider will determine their program’s actual course length.

Program Types

If you offer a course in Spanish and English, is that two programs?

Yes.

Does live in-person and live virtual Zoom count as two courses?

It depends on how it is done.

Is this a one-time application fee of $1000?

The $1000 fee is for the initial application program fee. Each training program requires its own $1000 application fee. Please refer to section 168.3 for training provider fees.

Regulations

Where do we find the regulations?

The regulations are available on our website.

Requirements for Confirming a Server has Completed Training

Who is responsible for creating the initial Server account with RBS?

The server is responsible for creating an account in the RBS portal. One may not be created for them by another person or training provider. The $3 fee is part of the server registration process. The server should create an account with ABC prior to taking training.

How do we submit information to ABC on the servers who have passed training?

Per Section 168.3(d) of the regulations, the training provider has 24 hours to update the RBS portal after a server has completed their training course. We are working on developing an electronic means to have training providers be able to do mass confirmations or confirmation through API. For now, the data entry is a manual process to be completed by the training provider or their designee.

Will you provide the link to sync the exam immediately to you once they complete the online course?

That functionality is still in development, so it will be a manual process in which the training provider will be the one to enter who has completed their training course to grant the server access to the exam.

Should there be any link that redirects the servers to take the ABC Final Exam after he/she successfully completed the training? Or do we just report the student completion and student need to go to the ABC website by themselves to take the final exam to get their license?

That functionality is still in development, so it will be a manual process in which the training provider will be the one to enter who has completed their training course to grant the server access to the exam. Once the training provider has confirmed training in the RBS Portal, the server will receive notification from the RBS Portal that they may now take their certification exam.

Once they complete the course, we provide them a link to the exam?

Upon the server’s completion of your training course, you will need to instruct them to go back to the RBS Portal in order to take their certification exam. Once the training provider has confirmed training, the server will receive notification from the RBS Portal that they may now take their certification exam.

Please confirm that training providers have to manually enter completion data into a site until an API is set up?

The API’s for online providers will not be established at the time of the server release. We certainly understand the desire for this functionality, and we have placed a high priority on it. We are working with the development vendor to complete it as soon as possible.

What identifying information will the provider need to get from the student to submit their grades to the ABC?

At a minimum, the training provider will need to capture the server’s name, email, and Server Identification Number as issued by ABC. The Server Identification Number is provided to the server when they register with ABC in the RBS portal.

What if they register more than 24 hours after the completion of the course?

Then the Training Provider cannot grant access to the exam until the server has registered. If for some reason, the training provider cannot confirm a server has completed training within the 24-hour period, then the training provider will need to email RBSTP to notify the RBSTP Manager of the circumstances surrounding the reason for the delay of granting exam access. Training Providers should be encouraging their students to have registered in the RBS portal before signing up for training. The encouragement can be as simple as requiring their server identification number as part of the course registration process.  

Server Register for Training

Does the student (server) has to first register on abc.gov, and then they use the number issued to the server by ABC to register on training providers system (for online)?

Yes.

Server/Training Go Live

Will we be notified in advance or on the day the application system becomes live?

Once we have a scheduled release date for server access, we will post that information on the RBS webpage as well as send out notifications through our email subscription service. 

Contact

For alcohol server registration assistance or general assistance with RBS contact:

Online Services
Phone: (916) 318-6435
Email: onlineservices@abc.ca.gov

Translation Services
Email: eeo@abc.ca.gov


For training provider assistance or questions about RBS requirements contact:

RBSTP Team
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: rbstp@abc.ca.gov

March 2021

Program updates from the Responsible Beverage Service Training Program (RBSTP) team including now accepting training provider applications, the training provider application process, project timeline, and FAQs.

Now Accepting Training Provider Applications

The Responsible Beverage Service Training Program (RBSTP) team is pleased to announce that they are now for all application entities. The training provider application for entities that qualify as a government entity is now available, in addition to the previously offered private sector business entity applications.

Training Provider Application Process

On Friday, February 5, 2021, the RBSTP team hosted a virtual stakeholder meeting via Zoom, which provided a high-level overview of the RBS Program and focused on the specifics of the training provider application. A demo of the online Training Provider application was also provided. A recorded copy of the meeting is available on the February 2021 Program Update. Our responses to the questions that were asked during the meeting by our stakeholders will be posted later this week. The training provider application is now available and is accessible via a portal link on the ABC RBSTP page.

Updated RBS Project Timeline

The RBSTP team is planning to host virtual stakeholder meetings for RBS training providers, licensees, alcohol servers, and law enforcement to discuss the RBS Training Program’s progress and the database’s features for the Spring of 2021. 

The RBSTP team is planning to host virtual stakeholder meetings for RBS training providers, licensees, alcohol servers, and law enforcement to discuss the RBS Training Program’s progress and the database’s features throughout 2021-2022.

  • February 23, 2021 – Begin accepting RBS Training Provider Application.
  • Spring 2021 – Design and development of the database to be completed.  Public outreach campaign to begin and approved RBS Training becomes available.
  • Spring/Summer 2021 – ABC approved RBS Providers continue training throughout the state.
  • Summer 2022 – RBS Training is mandatory in the State of California.

Frequently Asked Questions

The RBSTP team has been hard at work, answering all of your questions and concerns regarding the implementation of AB 1221. We have received questions from “who must be trained” to “how to become a training provider.” To help ease any confusion during the transition, we have put together a list of the commonly asked questions and their answers on the RBS Frequently Asked Questions section of our website. If you have any additional questions about the Responsible Beverage Service Training Program that were not addressed on the FAQ page, please do not hesitate to email us at rbstp@abc.ca.gov.

To receive RBS updates via email, sign up to subscribe to our mailing list.

We would like to thank our stakeholders and the industry for their continued patience and cooperation as we implement this mandatory training requirement for alcohol servers and their managers.

Contact

For alcohol server registration assistance or general assistance with RBS contact:

Online Services
Phone: (916) 318-6435
Email: onlineservices@abc.ca.gov

Translation Services
Email: eeo@abc.ca.gov


For training provider assistance or questions about RBS requirements contact:

RBSTP Team
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: rbstp@abc.ca.gov