Responsible Beverage Sales and Service

In accordance with Vista Municipal Code 5.10, Alcoholic Beverage – Responsible Beverage Sales and Service, all sellers and servers of alcoholic beverages at retail establishments must complete an ABC certified course every three years. This requirement is for both on-sale and off-sale ABC license holders. 

There are currently two types of education offered by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC); LEAD training and Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training. Please read more to see what’s required.

About Lead Training

The LEAD training course provides practical information on how licensees and their employees can sell and serve alcoholic beverages safely, responsibly, and legally.  Upon completion of the course, each attendee will receive a certification card from the ABC.  Under the City’s Code, that certification is valid for three years from the date of course completion.  Licensees are responsible for ensuring that all employees have a current certification. LEAD training is provided by the ABC at no cost to the licensee or employee.

About RBS Training Program

Passage of Assembly Bill 1221 in 2017 created the Responsible Beverage Service Training Act. The bill required the Alcoholic Beverage Control to create the Responsible Beverage Service Training Program (RBSTP) to ensure servers and their managers of alcoholic beverages are educated on the dangers of serving alcohol to minors and over-serving alcohol to patrons with the intention of reducing alcohol-related harm to local communities.

Beginning July 1, 2022, any alcohol server and their manager must have a valid RBS certification from an ABC accredited RBS training provider and pass an online ABC administered RBS exam within 60 calendar days from the first date of employment. This is a requirement for all on-sale ABC license holders; it also meets the City’s training requirements under VMC 5.10. 

Enforcement of AB-1221 will begin September 1, 2022. 

For more questions regarding the new RBS requirement, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page of the ABC website.

What is required in the City of Vista?

If you hold an off-sale ABC license (types 20, 21), you are required to ensure that you and all employees have a current LEAD training certification.  Under VMC 5.10, certification is valid for three years.  

If you hold an on-sale ABC License (types 41, 42, 47, 48, 51, 52, 57, 58, 70, 75, 77, 79, 81, 86), you are required to ensure that you, all managers, and employees who are serving alcohol have completed an ABC approved RBS training within 60 days of employment beginning July 1, 2022 and that certification is completed every three years.

Contact  
Sara Trench
Management Analyst
City Manager's Office
P: 760.643.5206 
E: strench@cityofvista.com

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