Lesson 1: TABC Seller-Server Training
Overview Already Passed
Key Laws: Alcohol Sales ✔✔The sale of alcohol to minors under 21.
The sale of alcohol to people who are intoxicated.
The service of alcoholic beverages in
...
Lesson 1: TABC Seller-Server Training
Overview Already Passed
Key Laws: Alcohol Sales ✔✔The sale of alcohol to minors under 21.
The sale of alcohol to people who are intoxicated.
The service of alcoholic beverages in private clubs to non-members.
Keys to Customer Observation ✔✔How does the person look?image
What does the person do?
How does the person react?
How much alcohol has been purchased or consumed?
Keys to Intervention ✔✔Be Quick
Be Clear
Be Firm
Be Consistent
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) is the state agency that regulates all phases
of the alcoholic beverage industry in Texas. The duties of the commission include regulating
sales, taxation, importation, manufacturing, transporting, and advertising of alcoholic beverages.
✔✔To report underage drinking or suspected sales to intoxicated individuals, the TABC asks
that you call them directly. The number to call is:
1-888-THE-TABC (1-888-843-8222)
alcoholic beverage ✔✔defined as alcohol, or any beverage containing more than one-half of one
percent of alcohol by volume, which is capable of use for beverage purposes, either alone or
when diluted.
[Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Sec. 1.04 (1)]
on-premise ✔✔consumption in establishments such as restaurants and bars
off-premise ✔✔are also sold in packages for off-premise consumption in establishments such as
convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, or liquor stores.
Examples of common alcoholic beverages are: ✔✔Beer
Malt liquor
Wine
Wine coolers
Distilled spirits
Mixed drinks
Cocktails
Employee ✔✔anyone who sells, serves, dispenses, or delivers alcoholic beverages for a business
that is licensed to sell alcohol is considered an employee of that business. This also includes
anyone who immediately manages, directs, supervises, or controls the sale or service of alcoholic
beverages.
Minor ✔✔For the purposes of alcoholic beverage sales and service, a minor is defined as
someone under the age of 21. You may hear the term minor occasionally used to refer to
individuals that are under the age of 18. This is the case concerning tobacco sales. The sale of
tobacco to "minors" is prohibited, meaning that individuals under the age of 18 may not purchase
tobacco. Throughout this course, the term minor will always mean someone who is under the age
of 21.
Intoxication ✔✔Not having the normal use of mental or physical faculties by reason of the
introduction of alcohol, a controlled substance, a drug, a dangerous drug, a combination of two
or more of those substances, or any other substance into the body, or having an alcohol
concentration of 0.08 or more.
Public Intoxication ✔✔To appear in a public place while intoxicated to the degree that the
person may endanger the person or another. A person that is so intoxicated that he or she could
cause damage or harm to someone else must not be in public places in Texas.
Criminal Negligence ✔✔A person fails to meet a standard level of care that an ordinary person
under these conditions would meet, e.g. checking IDs, calculating age, refusing to over-serve
patrons, and looking for signs of intoxication.
Sellers and servers have certain responsibilities including checking IDs, calculating age, refusing
to over serve customers, and looking for signs of intoxication. Throughout this course you will
learn the standard levels of care to help prevent you from being criminally negligent.
Responsibilities of a Seller-Server ✔✔The person who actually serves, sells, or delivers the
alcoholic beverage is legally responsible for the sale.
Other employees (such as door people, bouncers, floorwalkers, or bartenders) can assist with
checking IDs and monitoring for intoxication, but the person who serves the alcohol is legally
responsible and will be the one who receives a violation.
The Risks of Breaking the Law ✔✔f you knowingly break the laws that govern alcohol
sales/service, you are committing a crime. If you are found guilty, there are serious
consequences. If the person who illegally gets the alcohol from you goes on to cause harm or
damage, you may also be held responsible for that damage as well.
Not only is it a big deal for you if you break any of the alcohol sales and service laws, it can also
mean problems for your employer and for the customer. Consider the following:
Your employer may be at risk of losing their license to sell alcohol.
The customer may be at risk since they could be breaking the law by making an illegal purchase
of alcohol.
Revoking Your Certification ✔✔Your certification as a Responsible Seller-Server can be taken
away by the TABC if you are charged with breaking the laws concerning the sale of alcohol.
Here are the penalties imposed by the TABC:
1st Offense: Within 30 days of the offense, you must retake a Responsible Seller-Server course
and the exam to be recertified.
2nd Offense within 12 months: Certificate is revoked for 90 days. You must also retake a course
and exam to be recertified.
3rd Offense within 12 months: Certificate is revoked and you cannot be recertified for one year.
Safe Harbor ✔✔If you are charged with selling alcohol to a minor or to an intoxicated person,
your employer could lose their license to sell. In order for your employer's license to be
protected:
The person selling / serving is not the owner or an officer of the company;
The person selling / serving holds a current seller-server training certificate from a TABC
approved school;
All employees engaged in the sale, service, or delivery of alcoholic beverages, as well as their
immediate managers are certified within 30 days of their hire date;
The employer has written policies for responsible alcohol service and consumption and ensures
that each employee has read and understands these policies;
The employer does not directly or indirectly encourage the employee to violate the law.
Meeting these criteria is commonly referred to as "safe harbor." If an illegal sale is made, the
seller-server might be arrested, but the company's permit / license may be protected.
Employer Requirements ✔✔If one violation takes place:
Criminal action may be taken again the employee;
The owner or manager may be required to complete an affidavit stating that they have met all the
requirements;
The owner or manager will be required to provide the names, social security numbers, and dates
of birth of all employees so that the affidavit can be verified.
TABC will verify the certification of the employees.
If any one of these elements is missing, the company is not protected.
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