California Responsible Beverage Service Training Program

California has a number of formal acts in statute. Business and Professions Code Division 9, Chapter 16, Article 4 provides the Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training Program Act of 2017, which is contained in Section 25680 to 25686. Article 4 was added in 2016 by Chapter 847.

Section 25680 provides definitions for the following terms: “alcohol server”; “alcohol server certification”; “RBS training course”; and, “RBS training program.” Section 25681 requires the department to develop, implement, and administer a curriculum for an RBS training program that will make RBS training courses available, both in person and online, to all persons required to obtain an alcohol server certification pursuant to this article. RBS training courses are required to be offered in English and Spanish.

The department must authorize accreditation agencies to accredit training providers to offer RBS training courses that meet the curriculum requirements established by the department. The department may approve training providers that are not accredited by an accreditation agency authorized by the department.

A training provider must issue alcohol server certifications to persons who have successfully completed an RBS training course and passed an exam. An alcohol server certification is valid for a period of three years from the date of issuance.

Section 25682 provides that a licensee that is subject to this article cannot employ or continue to employ any alcohol server without a valid alcohol server certification. A licensee that is subject to this article is required to ensure that each alcohol server it employs has a valid alcohol server certification.

Section 25683 prohibits a person from performing duties that include the sale or service of alcoholic beverages for consumption on licensed premises, and cannot manage that person, without a valid alcohol server certification. Section 25684 provides that the failure of a licensee to comply with this article is grounds for disciplinary action.

Section 25685 allows the department to adopt rules that it determines necessary for the administration of the provisions of this article. In addition, the department may charge fees as necessary to cover its reasonable costs for administering the program authorized by this article.

Section 25686 provides that nothing in this section is to be construed to expand the existing duties of a licensee in connection with the sale and service of alcoholic beverages.