Tennessee TABC Alcohol Server & Seller Training

A:  A TABC-issued server permit authorizes an individual to serve alcoholic beverages or beer at an establishment that holds an on-premise consumption license.  Anyone who wishes to serve or sell alcoholic beverages or beer for on-premise consumption at a TABC-licensed establishment must obtain a server permit.  Once issued, a server permit is valid for five (5) years.  Server permits are not transferable to other individuals.

A:  To obtain a server permit, you must be at least eighteen (18) years old.  If the establishment permits smoking on the premises, then the server must be at least twenty-one (21) years old.

A:  A server has sixty-one (61) days from the time he or she begins serving at any establishment to obtain a server permit from the TABC. A server permit expires after five (5) years, at which time a server must apply for a new permit. An individual who held a server permit in the past is not eligible for the sixty-one (61) day grace period if he or she has allowed the server permit to expire.

A:  Yes.  Each on-premise manager, assistant manager, and/or any individual working in such capacity and having duties which directly or indirectly impact on the selling and dispensing of alcoholic beverages must have a valid server permit.

A:  In order to obtain a server permit from the TABC, an individual must do the following:

1.       Create and complete a server permit application online:

a.       Create an RLPS account;

b.       Create a new server permit application;

c.        Upload the required documentation; and

d.       Pay the $20.00 non-refundable application fee.

2.       Complete a program of alcohol awareness training for persons involved in the direct service of alcohol, wine or beer by an entity certified by the commission to have an adequate training curriculum for alcohol awareness.  The training program must be at least three and one half (3.5) hours long.  The certificate indicating successful completion of the program is not a TABC server permit.

3.       For additional information regarding applying for a server permit, please consult the TABC’s video tutorials available at https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/abc/rlps/rlps-tutorials.html .

A:  A current list of approved training programs, including online training programs, and server training trainers can be found at https://www.tn.gov/abc/permitting/server.html.  Someone wishing to attend server permit training should seek additional information about the class times and costs from the specific training program or trainer.  The TABC does not set the cost for training programs, and trainers are not employed by the TABC.

A: The TABC reviews applications for licenses and permits to determine whether the applicant has a criminal history that directly relates to the occupations under the regulation of the Commission. The TABC will not consider any convictions that have been expunged from an applicant’s criminal history. In order to facilitate the review of your application, please attach to your application judgment forms for all convictions.  The judgment forms should indicate the court where the conviction occurred, the conviction date, the conviction offense and statute violated, and the resulting sentence. You may obtain copies of the judgment forms from the courts where the convictions occurred. For further information regarding how the TABC reviews criminal convictions, please follow the below link to a Director’s Memo on this topic:

https://www.tn.gov/abc/public-information-and-forms/director-s-memos.html

A:  Yes.  A server permit may be suspended or revoked by the Commission for any violation of Title 57 of the Tennessee Code Annotated or the rules and regulations of the TABC.  In lieu of suspension or revocation, the Commission may require the server to retake and successfully complete a program of alcohol awareness training conducted by an entity certified by the Commission.

A:  Yes.  An individual who holds a server permit may also seek to obtain a manager’s permit from the TABC.

A:  No.   Applicants are responsible for printing out their own server permits from the associated RLPS account once the permit has been approved.

A:  Please see the TABC’s RLPS tutorial for instructions on how to print a server permit.

A:  No.  Submitting the application does not guarantee approval of the application.  The TABC reviews the application information to determine if an applicant qualifies for the permit.  Permits will be issued to those who qualify for the permit and will be denied those who do not qualify.

A:  Yes.  Servers are required to have a copy of their server permit on their person while they are working.  For purposes of this requirement, server permits in electronic format are acceptable if they are readily available and easily accessible.

Please sign in and return to the Tennessee Alcohol Server On-Premise Course at the top of the website on the button that states Sign In.

Tennessee liquor licensing and/or bartender licensing rules and regulations are handled by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverages Commission (TABC).

Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission
500 James Robertson Parkway, 3rd Floor
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0755

Phone:  615-741-7545
Fax:  615-741-0847
Website: https://www.tn.gov/abc.html

• Any US state driver's license
• Any US state ID
• US Passport
• Foreign government ID

If it's a foreign government ID, the language on the ID will need to be easily interpreted to ensure age. Read more about how old to become a bartender in each state. https://servingalcohol.com/how-old-to-be-a-bartender/

The minimum age to serve, pour, or sell alcohol is 18 years old.

The minimum age to drink alcoholic beverages is 21 years old.

Maybe. Off-premises or on-premises licensees and managers cannot hold a license or licensed manager position if convicted of a felony. But, individuals might be able to serve alcohol if approved by the ordinance.

In the state of Tennessee, an DUI (driving under the influence) is considered a BAC at or greater than .08%.

Notwithstanding the provisions of proximate cause, a judgment awarding damages to or on behalf of any party who has suffered injury or death against any person who has sold an alcoholic beverage or beer may be awarded if a jury has determined beyond a reasonable doubt that the sale of the alcoholic beverage or beer by that was the proximate cause of the personal injury or death sustained.

ADDENDUM: TENNESSEE DRAM SHOP LAW

57-10-101. proximate cause. The general assembly hereby finds and declares that the
consumption of any alcoholic beverage or beer rather than the furnishing of any alcoholic
beverage or beer is the proximate cause of injuries inflicted upon another by an intoxicated
person.

57-10-102. Standard of proof.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 57-10-101, no judge or jury may pronounce a judgment
awarding damages to or on behalf of any party who has suffered personal injury or death against
any person who has sold any alcoholic beverage or beer, unless such jury of twelve (12) persons
has first ascertained beyond a reasonable doubt that the sale by such person of the alcoholic
beverage or beer was the proximate cause of the personal injury or death sustained and that
such person: (1) Sold the alcoholic beverage or beer to a person known to be under the age of
twenty-one (21) years and such a person caused personal injury or death as the direct result of
the consumption of the alcoholic beverage or beer so sold, or (2) Sold the alcoholic beverage or
beer to an obviously intoxicated person and such person caused personal injury or death as
the direct result of the consumption of the alcoholic beverage or beer so sold. [Acts 1986, ch. 519, § 2.]

No licensees nor employee or agent of a licensee shall serve two or more drinks or containers of alcoholic beverages to a consumer at one time under Tennessee alcohol law. May not sell, offer to sell, or deliver to any person or group of persons any drinks that are priced less than the price regularly charged for that drink in that size during the same calendar week, except at private functions not open to the public. Nor shall increase the volume of alcohol contained in any such drink during any calendar week without increasing proportionately the price regularly charged for such drink. Licensees may not offer Happy Hour specials after 10:00 pm.

Yes. It is a requirement under Tennessee to get tips certification on the service of alcohol from an approved Teneessee bartender license certification for instances of liability, especially insurance deductions.

The Massachusetts tips certification is valid for 3 years. 

With over 35 plus years of experience in the hospitality industry as an alcohol certification consultant, instructor, manager, and coordinator, Robert Pomplun is a true expert. Our alcohol training and certification courses with Robert's guidance have benefited 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!