Behind the bar, you feel confident and empowered. Serving customers is what you do best.
You know how to mix a Bloody Mary during Sunday morning brunch. You have all the beers on tap memorized, right down to the Texas town that brewed them. You know which wines will best complement each dish and are trusted for your pairing expertise.
But have you completed your seller server training?
Serving alcohol is a privilege and doing so safely should be your priority.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) recommends that employees selling alcohol in bars and restaurants be seller server trained.
Almost all states have some standardized form of training for alcoholic beverage servers.
In Texas, the TABC sets the seller server curriculum for training schools to follow. There are lots of schools out there that provide seller server courses. Schools have received authorization through the TABC if they align with the required curriculum.
Seller server training is not required by the state of Texas, but it is highly recommended.
Reasons for Seller Server Training
We’re in the business of hospitality. Guest safety and satisfaction should be our top priority.
And safe alcohol service helps keep our communities safe.
Servers are committed to the safety of customers by enacting simple boundaries. Not overserving guests, preventing drinking and driving, and not serving minors are a few basics.
Protecting public health and safety is the core mission of the TABC.
It should be yours too.
Plus, having a seller server certificate will help your career.
Individuals with seller server training are more likely to be hired. Employers value the protections provided by having a team of certified servers.
Why? Because requiring employees to complete seller server training can protect a business from liability.
Employees make mistakes. Unfortunately, sometimes employees also choose to be irresponsible.
The Safe Harbor Defense protects employers from liability if their servers sell alcohol in violation of Texas law. This includes serving to a minor or intoxicated person.
Employee behaviors don’t need to impact the livelihood of an entire business.
To be protected from liability under the Safe Harbor Defense, employers must meet a list of requirements. On the list? Having your employees complete seller server training.
If an employer can show that the employee was seller server trained at the time of the incident, then the business can be protected.
Hiring seller server certified employees is a simple way to maintain a qualified workforce and protect the business.
What’s the Seller Server Course All About?
Completing the Texas seller server training is a straightforward process, we promise.
First, register for a TABC certified seller server class.
There are many Texas seller server classes available both in-person and online. A quick Google search can help you identify the best option for you.
Online seller server classes are easy and extra convenient. Take the training from the comfort of your own home and you’ll have all the knowledge you need for your next work shift.
We always recommend double-checking that the school is certified to teach seller server classes by the TABC before you sign up. A certified school will be following the proper course curriculum.
The class will go through the learnings outlined in the TABC course requirements. No matter which course you sign up for, you should receive the same essential information.
It may take you a couple of hours or more complete a Texas seller server course.
Rather than viewing the Texas seller server course as something you have to get through, make the most of your time in the class.
You’re putting in the time to learn, after all. Make your knowledge as strong as it can be!
Take notes throughout the class or save the content from the course to keep in your records. Many courses provide an overview of key information or even PDFs of their slides to download.
These pieces will be helpful references for the exam at the end of your course. The TABC requires that all students pass a test to demonstrate an understanding of the content. It’s a way to confirm that you’re committed to the learnings in the course.
So stay attentive and keep track of all the important information! The better knowledge you have about alcoholic beverage safety, the better server you’ll be in the end.
So once you’ve taken the Texas seller server course, then what?
Start by patting yourself on the back for taking the time to learn. It’s been a worthwhile investment!
Once the course is complete, you will receive a copy of your TABC Seller Server Certificate. It will look like the below.
Don’t lose this certificate! Better yet, create a safe place to keep a copy for easy reference. You may receive a paper copy of the certificate or a digital copy that you can save to your computer.
You’ll want the certificate easily available when you start working in a bar or restaurant. Most employers will need you to provide a copy of your seller server certificate for their files. Make sure you follow any specific paperwork requirements from your employer.
Once the course is complete, your training school will let the TABC know who attended the class. You can check online to confirm your certification. You’re all set if you see your name and birthday on the list.
Give it some time. If you do not see your name on the TABC website right away, don’t panic. The training school may not have reported the course information yet. Or there might be a slight delay in the information displayed on the TABC website.
If it’s been a week or so and your information is still not included, reach out to the seller server training school.
Keep up the good work!
Congrats on completing your Texas seller server certification! Remember to keep your knowledge fresh and always focus on the safety of the guests you serve.
Your seller server certificate will last for two years. After that, you will need to retake the training. This is part of an effort to keep industry knowledge sharp.
So enjoy this achievement, but mark your calendars. In two years, you’ll need to complete the Texas seller server course again.
At this time there may be new updates and additions to the curriculum. Things frequently change with the TABC, so it’s important to stay up to date.
Speaking of, that’s what we do best!
The Storm Liquor License team makes it our job to stay in the know of the latest updates from the TABC.
You’re busy enough. Let us keep you up to date! Contact us with any questions or to join our email list. We’re here to help!
Cheers,
Ashley, Claire & Tricia