Restaurant staff is often the first line of defense in keeping the community safe by making sure patrons are not overserved and don’t drive if they have had one too many drinks.
Training in Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) for servers, bartenders, and their managers makes sense to all restaurant owners. Under a new California law, staff in these positions should already have their RBS certification. New staff members who are just starting need to get their RBS certification within two months of being hired. The requirement became mandatory at the beginning of last month.
Like many businesses, restaurants had a hard time surviving the worst of the pandemic. That’s not a secret.
You may not know that traffic deaths from drunk driving and other causes rose nationwide during the first part of 2022 compared to last year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says here in California, fatal crashes were trending downward during that time. That didn’t happen by accident; the state’s new RBS law helped “move the needle” in the right direction.
The law just went into effect, but it was written in 2017. Everyone in the hospitality business knew about it. More than 150,000 bartenders, wait staff, and their managers were certified before the law went into effect. The state Alcoholic Beverage Control department says more than a quarter of a million people have registered for the training.
The RBS course explains how alcohol affects the human body and dispels myths about “sobering up.” And trainees learn how alcohol can interact with medication or recreational drugs, resulting in impairment. These tools help them do their job.
Restaurant owners and managers want to prevent alcohol-related problems. We want our team members to have RBS training. That is why we promote ridesharing. That’s why we’ll call you a cab if you need one. That is why we have reserved parking spaces for designated drivers. That is why we offer free non-alcoholic drinks to designated drivers.
Waiting tables or tending bar may not be a career choice for many young people, but it helps pay the rent. Some people fall in love with the hospitality industry and end up working their way up to managing or owning their businesses.
Whether you want a career in the restaurant business or are applying for a short-term job, you’re more likely to be hired if you already have your RBS certification. Don’t be discouraged if your new employer requires you to get RBS training. Protecting customers by reducing alcohol-related issues is a key part of the hospitality industry.
Restaurants provide jobs and bring visitors to communities like Pacific Beach. Those neighborhoods are safer because responsible businesses know and practice Responsible Beverage Service. We want people to eat, drink, have a good time, and return.
RBS training is available in eight languages. If you need certification, visit https://www.abc.ca.gov/education/rbs/ and click the RBS Portal button.
Contributed by Billy Ramirez, who owns and operates the Pacific Beach Shore Club, as well as Fish Shop restaurants in Pacific Beach, Point Loma, and Encinitas.
