December 2025

General Program Update

The first recertification surge for Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) servers is now winding down. Many individuals who were initially certified in 2022 have now successfully completed their three-year renewal.

To support servers throughout this process, ABC has made several enhancements to the RBS Portal and our public website, making it easier than ever to access up-to-date training materials and navigate a smooth renewal pathway.

Thank you to everyone who participated—your commitment to responsible service helps keep our industry safe and thriving!

To date, more than 450,000 alcohol servers have been trained and certified through the RBS program. Our network includes 90 approved training providers and programs, with options to suit a variety of learning preferences: 68 online, 18 in-person, and four in-house programs.

These programs are offered in multiple languages to better serve our diverse community: 67 in English, 17 in Spanish, two in Chinese, three in Korean, and one in Vietnamese.

RBS Training Program Update: AB2402 – RBS Curriculum Changes

The proposed regulations implementing AB2402 were submitted to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) on November 21, 2025, and are currently under review. Once approved, these regulations will require training providers to update their curriculum to include the new requirements. The proposed regulations will add § 165.1-165.2 to California Business and Professions Code, Title 4, Division 1, Article 25. The new sections will require training providers to include content on preventing drink spiking and protocol to follow if a person believes they, or someone they know, has become the victim of drink spiking.

Curriculum Update Deadline: January 1, 2027

Training providers should begin preparing for these changes to ensure compliance by the effective date. Additional updates and guidance will be provided once the regulations have been approved.

We encourage all providers to stay informed and plan accordingly. If you have questions about the required content or need clarification on implementation, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Approved RBS Training Programs in Languages other than English and Spanish

We are pleased to share approved online RBS programs now available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and Vietnamese. The RBSTP continues to accept and process applications from individuals and organizations interested in becoming a department-approved RBS training provider. For more information, please contact [email protected]. For applications requiring minimal to no edits, the estimated time for approval is 8-12 weeks. Please note that approvals for foreign language courses may take longer.

Updated Instructional Resources for RBS Alcohol Servers

We have updated our RBS Server Instructions which includes both first-time RBS alcohol servers and RBS recertifications. Additionally, a new video tutorial titled “Renew Your RBS Certification” has been uploaded to our RBS Portal playlist on YouTube to assist alcohol servers in completing the RBS recertification process. Our role selection page has also been updated to provide a brief description of all Online Services roles, including the Alcohol Server role.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Responsible Beverage Service Training Program 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. Our FAQs have also been amended to include answers regarding our newest online functionalities. Please take time to review our updated responses to the frequently asked questions.

Need Assistance with RBS or Licensing Online Services?

Servers and licensees are encouraged to contact our RBS Training Program & Licensing Online Services Centralized Support team for assistance at [email protected].

Contact

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

Online Services
Phone: (916) 318-6435
Email: [email protected]

Translation Services
Email: [email protected]

For training provider assistance or questions about RBS requirements contact:

RBSTP Team
3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95834
Email: [email protected]