Tennessee TABC
Server Permit

A TABC-issued server permit authorizes an individual to serve alcoholic beverages or beer at an establishment with 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.

You must be at least eighteen (18) years old to obtain a server permit. If the establishment permits smoking on the premises, the server must be at least twenty-one (21) years old.

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.

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.

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 an alcohol awareness training program 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 about applying for a server permit, please consult the TABC’s video tutorials at https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/abc/rlps/rlps-tutorials.html

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 price for training programs, and the TABC does not employ trainers.

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 expunged from an applicant’s criminal history. To facilitate the review of your application, please attach judgment forms for all convictions to your application. 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

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 complete a program of alcohol awareness training conducted by an entity certified by the Commission.

Yes. An individual with a server permit may also seek a manager’s permit from the TABC.

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

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

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 to those who do not qualify.

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