Alcohol Seller-Server
Training Online

Many states and employers require workers who sell, serve or handle alcoholic beverages to complete alcohol seller-server training shortly after starting employment. Our 100% online alcohol training courses are designed to help employees complete their mandatory training and become certified to sell and serve alcohol responsibly.

The goal of seller-server training is to educate workers on the basics of alcohol safety. Course topics include the effects of alcohol on the body, preventing underage drinking, preventing sales to intoxicated customers and state-specific alcohol laws and regulations. You'll learn a wide range of best practices that promote the responsible sale and use of alcohol. In addition, you'll protect yourself and your company from liability related to illegal alcohol sales.

The terms on- and off-premises refer to whether the alcohol you sell will be consumed on-site at your place of work (on-premises) or at another location (off-premises). Our online courses help workers meet state or employer training requirements for on- and off-premises alcohol sales.

On-premises training is designed for workers at bars, restaurants, night clubs and other locations where customers consume alcohol on-site. Off-premises training is designed for workers who sell alcohol to be consumed off-site, such as convenience store employees, liquor store cashiers and cashiers at other businesses that don't allow alcohol consumption on-site.

Depending on your state and employer, you may need on-premises training, off-premises training or both. Select your state at the top or bottom of the page to learn more about the training your state requires and the seller-server courses we offer. If you're unsure which course you need, we suggest that you ask your employer.

We work with alcoholic beverage control boards in a number of states to ensure our seller-server courses satisfy state, local or employer training requirements. In addition, we offer responsible alcohol training to workers who need employer-required training in states where seller-server training isn't mandated.

We offer state-accepted courses that are compliant with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the New York State Liquor Authority, the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, and other state departments that regulate alcohol. Select your state at the top or bottom of this page to learn about course approvals in your state.

The amount of time your certificate will remain valid can vary by state, but most states require employees to retake the course every three years. Employers and local jurisdictions may also specify how often you need to complete refresher training.

Select your state at the top or bottom of this page for more information about specific requirements in your state.

In addition to seller-server training, we offer an online mixology course that explains the basics of bartending and teaches you how to create 35 best-selling craft cocktails. Learn about common liquors, cocktail types, bartender tools, making custom drink recommendations and more.

Dram shop laws in many states allow businesses to be held liable if they sell or serve alcohol to customers who later cause injuries or death due to their intoxication. These laws are designed to prevent negligent alcohol sales to minors and intoxicated persons.

In states with dram shop laws, sellers and servers are responsible for damages caused by intoxicated or underage patrons. You can limit your liability and consequences to your business by refusing to sell alcoholic beverages to minors and stopping overservice to intoxicated customers.

Intoxication is a function of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the percentage of alcohol found in a person’s blood. The higher the BAC, the more impaired they become. Weight, sex, number of beverages consumed and length of time that has passed since a patron’s last drink all influence BAC.

You can use the BAC chart below to estimate the impairment of customers. While the chart is useful, it only provides a rough idea of a patron’s true BAC. Our online alcohol training course will teach you to recognize signs of intoxication and behaviors to look out for when refusing service.

Source: California DMV

As BAC increases, the signs of impairment intensify. The effects of alcohol are cumulative until the body can metabolize it through the liver (and the kidneys, in cases of chronic consumption).

For a more detailed look at the science of intoxication, including a detailed breakdown of the effects of alcohol on the human nervous system, enroll in our online alcohol training.

As a rough guide, look for some of the following signs to judge a customer’s general level of intoxication. This chart is organized by the BAC at which most patrons will begin to exhibit each behavior.