In order to limit the extent of your liability when alcohol is served by your organization or by groups using your facilities, it is important to ensure that all staff whether paid or volunteer are adequately trained in the responsible serving of alcohol.

When training staff is it advisable to make sure that all individuals who work in an area where alcoholic beverages are to be served are adequately served. This includes not only bar staff but security, door staff and managers. There are a variety of programs available that may be administered on site or via the internet. It is wise to access programs that are approved by your local authority or state/province.

In every jurisdiction in the United States it is considered a statutory offense for servers of alcohol to cause or contribute to a person’s state of intoxication. To remain in compliance with the law, bartenders and servers must refuse further service to any individual exhibiting signs of intoxication. Servers must also be aware that they as well as the business can be held civilly liable for the subsequent actions of an intoxicated patron. This liability is imposed through case law or legislative action, and is generally referred to as the Dram Shop Acts. Loosely defined, the Dram Shop Acts are the statutes that impose a civil liability upon servers and licensees when an intoxicated patron injures an innocent third party (or in some cases to themselves).

Some programs that offer training for servers are:

SmartServe Ontario:  http://smartserve.org/about_us.asp

Server Certification by State:  http://www.servercertificationcorp.com/states.html. Please note that server training is mandatory in some U.S. states.