ServSafe Alcohol Safety: Guide for Bars & Restaurants

Serving alcohol at bars and restaurants can be a lucrative business, but it comes with a serious responsibility and some certifications to gather. Just like food handler certifications, alcohol requires some licenses and certifications to not only sell but to serve it as well. Liquor requires 

Below we have a ServSafe Alcohol safety guide for bars & restaurants to help you learn more about this certification and why it is important to be on your radar. 

What is ServSafe Alcohol Certification?

ServSafe Alcohol certification is an online course and certificate that prepares bar and restaurant staff on how to handle alcohol and different situations that might happen while serving it. It teaches people the responsibilities that go with serving alcohol to the public and how to identify unsafe practices. 

Why is it Important?

Getting certified can be a requirement for any business that serves alcohol. The certification requirements for alcohol can sometimes depend on the state, county and township that your business is located in. Being certified in your location’s requirements is essential not only for the safety of staff and the general public, but also for businesses to stay open. Certification ensures that guidelines and best practices are being followed for the safety of communities and the public.

How to Get ServSafe Certified

Getting ServSafe certified depends on which certification you need. For the ServSafe Alcohol Primary, they have an online exam that a proctor is not needed for. However, the ServSafe Alcohol Print Exam or the ServSafe Alcohol Advanced Exam requires a proctor to administer the exam.

Bar vs. Liquor Store Licenses

Both liquor stores and bars/restaurants require special certification or licensing for running their businesses. However, these two types of businesses might not require the same licensing. Some certifications you might see required are: 

• Liquor License – Every establishment that sells alcohol will need a liquor license, including liquor stores, bars and restaurants. The difference is that stores that sell liquor typically need a retail liquor license to operate. 


• Alcohol Seller Certification – Not every state and county requires an alcohol seller certification. Typically, some states require liquor stores to have training in alcohol sales since the liquor will be taken off premises and to prevent selling alcohol to underage customers. Checking your local town, county and state requirements will help you know what certificates you need to ensure your business is running within regulations.


• Food Service License –  Bars and restaurants are required to have food service licenses and adhere to food safety standards. These are usually given by the local health department. Liquor stores typically don’t need these licenses since they would only sell prepackaged food not consumed on site. 

Want to learn more about training and safety certifications for bars and restaurants? Check out our article on the 5 most common training and certification requirements for kitchen staff to help businesses get safety certified.