Bartender & Server Required
California Responsible Beverage Service (RBS)
California Bartender License
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California Responsible Beverage Service

As of February 2022, we have been officially approved as a renewed certified training provider by the state for our California Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training Certification. We are known as the most reputable and recommended training provider for California bartending licensing. Since 2012, we had been a state approved Responsible Beverage Service training program provider that is backed by over 35 years of experience with alcohol certifying individuals and businesses since 1985. As of July 2022, the state will require all servers, waiters, managers who serve alcoholic beverages to take a newly approved RBS certification course provided for you here. Use any computer, tablet, iPhone, or Android device. Easily complete your California alcohol handlers card course with our online California RBS Permit training course to recieve your CA bartender license.
California Responsible Beverage Service
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Training will be required by everyone who serves alcoholic beverages in the state of California as of July 1, 2022. It is important to note that all employers will require bartenders to complete an approved California Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) alcohol training certification not only for the state's requirement but also their liability insurance carrier.
The California Responsible Beverage alcohol certification is valid for 3 years from the date of issuance.
- You must be 21 years old to serve alcohol.
- An person must be at least 18 years of age to sell alcohol off-sale. An off-sale licensee may employ a person under the age of 18 if that person is under the continuous supervision of a person 21 years of age or older.
- A person between 18 and 21 years of age employed in any bona fide public eating place, which is licensed for the on-sale of alcoholic beverages, may serve alcoholic beverages to consumers only if such service occurs in an area primarily designed and used for the sale and service of food for consumption on the premises, and the primary duties of the employee shall be the service of meals to guests, with the service of alcoholic beverages being incidental to such duties.
- Local ordinances also regulate server age.
Yes, a felony conviction only prevents a person from obtaining a liquor license in the state of California.
Blood alcohol content or BAC for a DUI is .08% or more while being in physical control of a vehicle.
There is no Dram Shop liability in California, except when alcohol is served, sold, or otherwise provided to an obviously intoxicated minor. In such a case the server, seller, or provider may be held liable for damages.
The State of California does not have state-wide Happy Hour Prohibitions. Such laws may exist in your city or county. Check with your local jurisdiction for any restrictions.
- The bar closing time is 2 a.m.
- In San Jose, the last drink is served at 1:30 a.m., although bars aren’t required to close until 3 a.m.
- A bill in 2017 to let individual cities decide to move last call up to 4 a.m. was shot down.
To re-print your California certificate or wallet sized card, go to our Certificate Search section here: Certificate Search and Wallet Card
To be suitable as evidence for a defense, the identification card must be issued by a governmental agency and have a current description and a picture of the person presenting it which reasonably describes the person as to date of birth weight, height, sex and color of eyes and hair. No defense will exist if the card has obviously been altered or has expired.
In the event an Armed Forces identification card, Passport or Passport Card is provided as proof of identity and lacks a physical description, but does include date of birth and a photo, further proof of identity shall not be required.
A registration certificate issued under the Federal Selective Service Act is no longer considered documentary evidence of age, identity and date of birth.
Green cards and International Driver's Licenses are NOT acceptable forms of ID.
- A valid current driver's license or photo ID card.
- A valid Armed Forces ID;
- A valid U.S. passport or foreign passport (with U.S. travel visa) containing the holder's photograph.
We have over 30 plus years of experience and consider the most reputable and recommended training provider in the service of alcohol certification. Our founder, Robert Pomplun, has been involved in the hospitality industry as an alcohol certification consultant, instructor, manager, and coordinator. Our alcohol training and certification courses with Robert's guidance have benefited tens of thousands of bartenders, servers, managers, owners, and security staff across the nation. Our courses will prepare you and your team with knowledge as the most critical component of responsible alcohol service.
Learn more About Us!
Computers or devices compatible to take this course:
- Windows 7,8,or 10
- Mac OSX or better
- Android based tablet or phone (version 5.0 or better)
- iPhone 6 or better
- iPad 4 or better
Compatible web browsers:
- Google Chrome ver. 50 or better
- Mozilla Firefox ver. 45 or better
- Safari 10 or better
- Microsoft IE 11 or better
- Microsoft Edge
We want to make a special note concerning Samsung web browsers on Android devices. Interactive learning software has some difficulties with the Samsung browser. Please, switch to the native Google Chrome browser on your device instead. You will have a better user experience. Every Samsung smartphone comes with the native Google Chrome web browser. If you need to download it, click the link below.
Beginning July 2021, the Responsible Beverage Service Training Act of 2017, AB 1221, will mandate that all alcohol servers or managers at on-premises establishments must complete a California alcohol server training course. This certification course is often referred to as California responsible beverage server training, California bartender license, or California RBS server permit. Our seller server course strictly follows the guidelines provided by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to train you how to become a bartender in California, or an alcoholic beverage seller server. This alcohol training course is commonly called the California bartender license or California seller server permit. Since 1985, we have diligently offered alcohol training to certify hundreds of thousands of individuals and businesses. This course is created by former bar and restaurant managers, bartenders, and servers. Our alcohol training certification incorporates decades of research and renders the rules, regulations, and California liquor laws set by California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for responsible alcohol service.
For over a decade, we have collaborated with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and liability lawyers to create the most reputable and recommended alcohol certification training. We cover topics in our California bartender course about how old you need to be to become a bartender and how to get your bartender license. For reference, we have a web page dedicated to some helpful bartender career statistics in the US. For general information on obtaining a bartending license (not specific to any state), see our Ultimate Guide to Getting a Bartending License.
Advantages to our online course:
- Easily complete at your own pace
- Login and out of course as many times as needed to complete
- Up to 6 months to complete your course
- Only 70% to pass and get your certificate
- Retake final exam until pass if needed FREE
- Immediately download & email your certificate for FREE
Beginning July 2022, the Responsible Beverage Service Training Act - AB 1221, mandates that all alcohol servers, bartenders, and managers at on-premises establishments complete an approved California alcohol server training course and pass the exam at the state's RBS portal. This certification course is often referred to as California responsible beverage server training, California bartender license, or California seller/server permit.
We recognize that you are busy and alcohol training maybe not on the forefront of your mind. We aim to give you accurate knowledge and quickly bring you "up to speed" with the most recent laws. Some of our information may seem common knowledge. But, as you do, we take your profession very seriously. Your decisions, while serving alcohol, could make a dramatic difference in another person's life. With a little of your time and our training, we will get tips to become a safe server. Select your course, click Enroll Now, complete our course, and get your certificate from the RBS portal all within a couple of hours.
This California alcohol seller server course gives you with the tools to sell and serve alcohol in California responsibly. With our course, you will not only protect yourself but the establishment where you are selling and serving alcohol. Additionally, you will learn:
- The effects of alcohol on your patrons
- Keep customers from becoming overly intoxicated
- Intervene when you need to refuse a sale
- Prevent intoxicated customers from disturbing others
- Train Your Staff to Check IDs Properly for Fake IDs
- Prevent second-party sales
- Protect yourself and the establishment from liability
Quick & Easy
This course takes a couple of hours or less depending on the individual. It's easy to begin and complete in one sitting or take our training course at your leisure. Leave and come back to the course as many times as needed. When you return, the training will pick up where you last had left.
Use Any Cell Phone, Tablet, or Computer
Our courses can be completed on any computer, tablet, or cellphone. Your certificate is available from the state immediately upon completion of our course and the state's server. Complete it tonight and email to your manager before going to work tomorrow. Select your course, click enroll now, complete the course.
Required By Most Insurance Carriers
Most liability insurance carriers for alcohol serving establishments (restaurants, bars, taverns, night clubs, etc.) require all employees to be alcohol certified as well. They will require your staff remain current with state rules, regulations, and laws, in regards to the service of alcohol. As a result, more businesses are requiring our alcohol training certificate as a condition of employment.
35 Years of Alcohol Training Knowledge and Experience
We take great pride in bringing you quality information. Since 1985, we have alcohol certified tens of thousands of individuals and businesses over the last 35 years. This course is created by former bar and restaurant managers, bartenders, and servers. Serving Alcohol Inc provides thee industry leading training and services to owners, managers, bartenders, waitstaff, and retail sellers of alcohol. Our training incorporates decades or research directly from our staff because we have "been there" working in the alcohol serving environment.
Most Preferred & Recommended Certification
We recognize that you are busy and alcohol training maybe not on the forefront of your mind. We aim to give you accurate knowledge and quickly bring you "up to speed" with the most recent laws. Some of our information may seem common knowledge. But, as you do, we take your profession very seriously. Your decisions, while serving alcohol, could make a dramatic difference in another person's life. With a little of your time and our training, we will help you become a safer alcohol seller or server and increase your tips. Free certificate and wallet card given immediately after completion.
You will learn all the "compliance" material and, as an added bonus, you will learn some hard won industry insights. We work directly with the states that we represent so that your training is current, concise, accurate, and highly approved. With our alcohol certification program, we give you the tools to learn to serve responsibly, a sense of responsibility, and respect for your community and your work environment.
If you have any problems, please Contact Us and we will quickly work with you to resolve it.