The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has adopted updates to its Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training Program. Beginning January 1, 2027, approved RBS training courses must include content on how to identify and help prevent drink spiking, expanding the safety topics on-premises servers are trained to handle.
What this means for California servers and managers
If you serve alcohol for on-premises consumption in California, RBS certification is already required, and certifications are valid for three years. When you next certify or recertify on or after the new content takes effect, your course will include the added drink-spiking material. Existing certifications remain valid through their current three-year term.
The certification process itself is unchanged: register in the ABC RBS Portal, complete training from an approved provider, and pass the ABC Alcohol Server Certification Exam within the required window.
If you need to certify or renew now, you can complete your training through our California RBS certification course.
Source: California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, RBS Training Program — Program Updates.
This post is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Alcohol-service laws change frequently and vary by state and locality. Always confirm current requirements with your state’s alcohol regulatory authority or a qualified professional before acting.
