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The Florida Responsible Alcohol Vendor course teaches workers about their responsibilities as an alcohol seller or server in Florida. The program explains effective ways to prevent alcohol sales to minors and intoxicated patrons, which helps protect both you and your employer from fines and legal liabilities.

This 100% online program satisfies training requirements for Florida's Responsible Vendor Program and Florida statutes 561.705 and 561.706. It includes audio narration, interactive quizzes and a 20-question final exam.

The course has no timers, and you can train anytime 24/7 at your own pace. When you pass the exam, you can instantly download your Responsible Alcohol Vendor certificate.

After completing the course, you will be prepared to:

  • Understand your legal responsibilities as an alcohol seller in Florida
  • Prevent alcohol sales to minors and intoxicated patrons
  • Discuss short- and long-term effects of alcohol use
  • Explain how illicit drug use creates an unsafe work environment
  • Identify intervention techniques for intoxicated patrons

The course also explains some administrative and criminal penalties associated with unsafe serving practices.

Who Needs Responsible Alcohol Vendor Training?

The Florida Responsible Vendor course is designed for employees who sell alcoholic beverages on or off premises, including bartenders, restaurant servers and cashiers at package stores, convenience stores and supermarkets.

This course is ideal for:

  • Bartenders
  • Waiters
  • Cashiers
  • Sommeliers and wine servers
  • Hospitality workers
  • Catering workers
  • Event organizers
  • Other workers in alcohol sales

If you are a manager at an establishment that serves or sells alcohol, our Florida Responsible Vendor Training for Managers course is the most appropriate training for you.

While responsible vendor training is not mandatory in Florida, it is required by employers who want to qualify or renew their status as a responsible alcohol vendor under the Florida Responsible Vendor Act.

This act was created to teach employees and managers the best practices for responsible alcohol service. The program helps prevent alcohol-related incidents in Florida and protects the business's alcohol license if an employee serves irresponsibly.

Course Overview

The Florida Responsible Alcohol Vendor course covers a wide range of topics related to alcohol sales, including:

  • Dram shop laws and other responsible beverage service laws
  • Effects of alcohol consumption on the body
  • Risks of selling alcohol to minors and intoxicated persons

The course is divided into five online modules:

1. Responsible Alcohol Service

Learning objectives for this module include:

  • Define terms associated with the legal sale of alcoholic beverages
  • Discuss the legal responsibilities of seller-servers
  • Describe underage drinking laws in Florida
  • Explain the legal consequences of impaired driving

Topics covered in this module include:

  • Alcoholic beverage service definitions
  • Establishment responsibilities
  • Underage drinking laws in Florida
  • Impaired driving laws in Florida
  • Controlled substance laws in Florida
  • Violating alcohol service laws

2. Alcohol and the Human Body

Learning objectives for this module include:

  • Identify common alcoholic beverages and standard drink sizes
  • Estimate the blood alcohol level (BAL) of patrons
  • Describe the long-term health effects of alcohol abuse

Topics covered in this module include:

  • Types of alcoholic beverages
  • Blood alcohol level
  • What is a standard drink?
  • Calculating blood alcohol level
  • Binge drinking and alcohol poisoning
  • Alcohol's effects on the body and mind

3. Minors and Alcohol Sales

Learning objectives for this module include:

  • Identify potential minors by appearance and behavior
  • Recognize types of identification that are legally valid for age verification
  • Demonstrate the three-step process for checking identification
  • Describe intervention techniques for preventing alcohol sales to minors

Topics covered in this module include:

  • Characteristics of minors
  • Checking identification
  • When to check ID
  • Valid forms of ID
  • Three-step process for checking ID
  • Characteristics of forged IDs
  • Refusing alcohol service

4. Intoxicated Persons

Learning objectives for this module include:

  • Classify the stages and signs of intoxication
  • Determine when a patron is likely intoxicated by observing appearance and behavior
  • Discuss how combining drugs and alcohol affects a person's intoxication level
  • Describe practical intervention techniques for restricting alcohol service to intoxicated persons

Topics covered in this module include:

  • Signs and stages of intoxication
  • On- and off-premises intoxication
  • Other factors related to intoxication
  • Drink tampering
  • Refusing alcohol service
  • Designated drivers

5. Controlled Substances

Learning objectives for this module include:

  • Identify types of controlled substances
  • Understand the effects of combining drugs and alcohol
  • Explain the short- and long-term consequences of drug abuse
  • Describe drug abuse intervention techniques for patrons and workers

Topics covered in this module include:

  • Types of controlled substances
  • Alcohol and drug mixing
  • Consequences of drug abuse
  • Refusing alcohol service
  • Employee drug abuse

The course ends with a final exam that assesses the student's comprehension and understanding of all modules and course objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our Florida responsible vendor course.

Is this course mandatory for alcohol seller-servers in Florida?

No, Florida law does not require people who sell or serve alcohol to take the responsible vendor course. However, your employer may tell you to complete this training to satisfy requirements of the Florida Responsible Vendor Act. Please confirm the standards for required or accepted alcohol training with your employer.

How soon do I need to complete the course after starting work?

If your employer requires responsible vendor training, you must complete the course within 30 days of starting employment. This is a requirement of the Florida Responsible Vendor Act.

How long does it take to finish the course?

The Florida Responsible Vendor course takes about 3 hours to complete. There are no course timers, so you can work on the course anytime on your own schedule.

Does the course have a final exam?

Yes. The course features end-of-module quizzes and a final exam. The minimum passing score for the quizzes and final exam is 70%, and you have an unlimited number of attempts to pass.

How quickly can I get my certificate of completion?

You can instantly download your certificate after completing the course and final exam. It typically takes 3 hours to complete this training.

How long is my Florida Responsible Vendor certificate valid?

Your certificate will remain valid for three years after the issue date.

What is the minimum age to sell alcohol in Florida?

Workers in Florida must be at least 18 years old to bartend or serve alcohol (beer, wine or spirits) on premises. There is no minimum age requirement for off-premises sales of beer or wine, but you must be at least 18 to sell spirits off premises.

How long do I have to complete the course?

You have 180 days to complete the course after purchasing. If you do not pass within this timeframe, you will need to re-register for the course.

Additional Links and Resources

Browse these resources for more information on safe serving laws and alcohol guidelines in Florida.

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