Promoting Responsible Alcohol Sales & Service
Practical training for businesses and employees involved in the sale or service of alcoholic beverages.
Training Built to Florida's Responsible Vendor Act
Our Responsible Vendor Training is built directly from Section 561.705, Florida Statutes, and the Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco's Responsible Vendor Qualifications Check List — the same check list ABT inspectors use to determine how well a licensed vendor meets the qualifications of the Florida Responsible Vendor Act.
We train your employees and managers on every subject the statute requires, and we provide the model policies and procedures, employee onboarding resources, incident reporting forms, and signage that keep those qualifications in place long after the class ends.
Vendors who complete training and maintain compliance may also qualify for a reduction in liability insurance premiums.
What Florida Law Requires
The Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco uses its Responsible Vendor Qualifications Check List to determine how well a licensed vendor meets the qualifications set out in Section 561.705, Florida Statutes, before the last violation date cited in a Notice to Show Cause. Our program covers all four areas on that list.
Qualifications of Premises
s. 561.703, F.S. — Definitions
- Confirmation that your business qualifies as a “vendor” — a person licensed under chapter 561, 563, 564, or 565 to sell or serve alcoholic beverages.
Training
s. 561.705, F.S.
- An alcoholic beverage course for employees covering service and establishment operation laws, the effects of alcohol, recognizing and dealing with underage customers, and controlled substances.
- Server training completed by every non-managerial employee who serves alcoholic beverages or checks identification, within 30 days of employment.
- Supervision of non-managerial employees who serve alcoholic beverages before they take the course.
- An alcohol server management course covering laws, the effects of alcohol, underage customers, incident recordkeeping, and standard operating procedures.
- Management training completed by all managers within 15 days of employment.
- Tri-annual meetings for all employees on responsible vending subjects, policies, and procedures.
Records
Maintained before any Notice to Show Cause
- An employee questionnaire assessing whether an employee is precluded by law from serving or selling alcoholic beverages.
- A written policy stating that an employee who engages in the illegal use of a controlled substance on the licensed premises shall be immediately dismissed.
- Written employee acknowledgement of your policy on on-premises controlled substance use.
- Employee applications with dates of hire.
- Employee acknowledgements on training, policy, and procedures.
- Records of employee dismissals for on-premises controlled substance use.
- Training records.
- Tri-annual meeting records.
Signs Posted Before Violations
Posted signage
- Signs informing customers that underage customers will not be served alcoholic beverages.
- Signs informing customers that purchase of alcoholic beverages by underage persons will result in ejection from the premises and prosecution.
- Signs informing customers that illegal use of or trafficking in controlled substances will result in ejection from the premises and prosecution.
Compliance determinations are made by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco. Our training and materials are built directly to the qualifications in Section 561.705, F.S. and the Division's check list.
The Two Courses the Statute Requires
We deliver both courses, for every level of your team.
Alcoholic Beverage Course for Employees
Required for every non-managerial employee who serves alcoholic beverages or checks identification. Completed within 30 days of employment.
Course covers
- Alcoholic beverage service and establishment operation laws.
- Effects of alcoholic beverages on the body, individual behavior, and motor vehicle operation.
- Methods for recognizing and dealing with underage customers.
- Effects of alcohol in combination with the use of controlled substances.
- Effects of controlled substances on the body, behavior, and motor vehicle operation.
- Methods for dealing with customers and employees who use or traffic in controlled substances.
Alcohol Server Management Course
Required for all managers. Completed within 15 days of employment.
Course covers
- Alcoholic beverage service and establishment operation laws.
- Effects of alcoholic beverages on the body, individual behavior, and motor vehicle operation.
- Methods for recognizing and dealing with underage customers.
- Methods for maintaining records regarding incidents involving underage customers and beverage law.
- Development of standard operating procedures for dealing with customers and employees who use or traffic in controlled substances.
Requirements That Continue After Training
- Non-managerial employees who serve alcoholic beverages are supervised until they complete the course.
- Server training within 30 days of hire.
- Management training within 15 days of hire.
- Tri-annual employee meetings on responsible vending subjects, policies, and procedures.
More Than Training
The qualifications cover records, policies, and posted signage too. Alongside the courses, we provide the materials that put those requirements in place.
Model Policies & Procedures
Written alcohol service policies, controlled substance policies, and standard operating procedures you can adopt for your business.
Employee Onboarding Resources
New-hire questionnaires, policy acknowledgement forms, and applications with date-of-hire fields to start your records correctly.
Incident Reporting Forms
Forms for documenting incidents involving underage customers, refused service, and beverage law matters.
Signage
Signs covering underage service, purchase by underage persons, and controlled substances, ready to post on your premises.
Who Should Attend?
- Bars and Nightclubs
- Restaurants
- Convenience Stores
- Retail Alcohol Vendors
- Event Venues
- Businesses Involved in Alcohol Sales or Service
Training Information
- Group training sessions for teams of any size
- Employee education for new hires and refreshers for existing staff
- Flexible scheduling, including sessions planned around your operating hours
- Instructional formats discussed and tailored to your business
Contact us to discuss group training, employee education, scheduling, and the instructional formats available for your team.
Schedule Responsible Vendor Training for Your Business
Tell us about your business and team size, and we'll follow up with training options and scheduling.
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