Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training programs give owners, managers, and staff of establishments that sell/serve alcohol knowledge and skills to help them serve alcohol responsibly, prevent excessive alcohol consumption among patrons and minimize harms from excessive drinking that has already occurred. Training may include topics such as preventing underage consumption,  identifying and responding to early signs of excessive consumption, identifying intoxicated patrons and refusing service to them and intervening to prevent intoxicated patrons from driving.  

RBS training can help reduce alcohol-related harm.  Research shows that 50% of people driving under the influence had their last drinks at licensed establishments.¹ In 1986, Oregon mandated the first statewide server training. Three years after Oregon introduced the intensive mandatory RBS training, fatal single vehicle nighttime crashes decreased 23%.² A study comparing states with mandated alcohol server training, incentivized training and no formal training laws showed that mandated states had more servers trained, more positive management attitudes among those with server training, fewer visibly intoxicated patrons, and more appropriate responses to pseudo-patrons simulating intoxication ³.  Furthermore, four studies showed RBS training resulted in decreased alcohol consumption. ⁴ Five studies found RBS training associated with a substantial decrease in the proportion of intoxicated patrons leaving the establishment (median decrease of 26.7%). ⁴ Lastly, a study in Rhode Island examined long term effects of community wide server training. After 15 months, trained servers reported significantly higher levels of desired server behaviors than non-trained. Four years later, responsible serving behavior remained higher than pre-training levels. ⁵

Currently, Responsible Beverage Service training (also called seller/server training) is mandatory in 17 states.⁶  We propose mandatory responsible beverage service training for all licensees.  We propose mandating training for owners, managers, servers and anyone else involved in the selling or serving of alcohol. We suggest training be required within 30 days of beginning employment.  Training for all individuals should be required every other year. We believe this training will help with implementation of current Virginia laws against serving intoxicated persons and underage youth.

All persons applying for a temporary liquor license and all persons to be employed by them in selling, serving or managing the selling or serving of alcohol shall have completed an ABC approved server education class or liquor license training seminar within two (2) years prior to the issuance of the temporary liquor license.

We suggest that mandatory responsible beverage service training be conducted by VA ABC approved training agencies using an approved curriculum. Online training is likely to be a cost effective, easy way to implement mandatory training. This could potentially be provided by VA ABC or through existing programs such as eTIPS  (www.gettips.com/eTIPS.html.) Responsible Beverage Service training may potentially benefit establishments by improving community relations, potentially lowering insurance premiums, and reducing property damage by intoxicated individuals. 

Proposed Regulation and Penalties

The proposed regulation requires everyone involved in the selling and serving of alcoholic beverages to participate in an ABC approved training program related to preventing alcohol sales to underage or intoxicated individuals. ⁷

(This ordinance is based on Rochester, MN ordinance §810.60(12). See also Oregon Statute §471.542.)

We propose the penalties for violation of mandatory responsible beverage service training include the following:

1.For the first violation, a fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50).

2.For subsequent violations, a fine not exceeding seven hundred ($700) dollars and suspension of the licensee's liquor license for twenty five (25) days.

1.       U.S. Department of Transportation: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Preventing Over-consumption of Alcohol – Sales to the Intoxicated and “Happy Hour” (Drink Special) Laws (DOT HS 809 878) 2005.  Available at http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/alcohol/pireweb/images/2240pierfinal.pdf  Accessed Mar 23, 2012.