5 Habits of Responsible Alcohol Service Every Server Should Know

Serving alcohol comes with real responsibility. Selling to a minor or to someone who is visibly intoxicated can lead to fines, a suspended license and, if someone gets hurt, legal liability for the business and sometimes for the server.

Responsible beverage service training exists to prevent that. These five habits are at its core.

1. Check ID every time

Check the ID of anyone who looks under the age your venue sets for carding, many places use 30 or 35, no matter how busy it is. Look at the date of birth, the photo and the expiration date, and feel the card for signs of tampering. If you are unsure, ask a manager. An ID you cannot verify is a reason to say no.

2. Watch for signs of intoxication

Intoxication rarely appears all at once. Watch for changes over the course of a visit:

• Louder speech, slurring or losing track of the conversation
• Clumsiness, spilling drinks or trouble picking up change
• Mood swings, arguing or unusual friendliness with strangers
• Ordering faster, or ordering doubles

3. Pace service, and offer food and water

Count drinks, not just tabs. Offering water and food, and slowing service when a guest is drinking quickly, keeps a good night from turning into a problem.

4. Refuse service the right way

When a guest has had enough, be calm, private and firm. Speak to them away from their friends, avoid judgmental words, offer a non-alcoholic drink or food, and involve a manager early. Never serve "one last drink" to end the conversation.

5. Write it down

Keep an incident log of refusals, fake IDs and any guest you had to cut off: what happened, when, and who was involved. A written record protects you and the business if questions come up later.

Training makes it routine

Rules vary by state, and in some states, such as California, responsible beverage service training is required for servers and managers. Our Alcohol Server Training and California RBS Training turn these habits into routine, online and at your own pace.