Responsible Beverage Server Training Renewal Course Responsible Beverage

Responsible Beverage Server Training Renewal Course

Responsible Beverage Server Training Renewal Course This course is for those individuals that have completed the basic server training course in the past and have had a valid server permit within the previous 12 months. If you have questions not covered in this training course, we highly recommend that you contact your local law enforcement agency or the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (816) 743 -8888 for guidance. The regulations can also be found at www. atc. dps. gov

Every person that sells or serves alcoholic beverages in the City of St. Joseph is required to have a “server license”. To renew a current server license the requirements are: Server License Requirements for the City of St. Joseph • Must have completed the basic server training class and have had a valid server license within the last 12 months. • The applicant must complete the online server training renewal course. • The applicant must pay the license fee of $15 and pass the written on-line test given at the end of the course. A 3 -year server license will then be mailed to you. • You will have the option of paying with a credit/debit card or Pay. Pal account. If you do not have a credit/debit card or a Pay. Pal account, you can purchase a pre-paid credit or Pay. Pal card at several retail locations to complete the transaction. • For those needing a receipt for the server license so you can be reimbursed by your employer, you can print the receipt at the end of the process

You are taking this training program because part of your job involves selling or serving alcohol. As you move through the training modules you will be developing skills that will help you spot fake ID's, reduce employer business expenses, assist customers in being responsible, and know how to stop service to intoxicated customers. Knowing the law, keeping alert, and doing your job correctly will protect you and your employer from legal liabilities and fines as a result of law violations. As a server, you are responsible for following state and local liquor laws and providing a safe environment for your customers. You can ensure that you are following the law by not serving drinks to underage or intoxicated individuals. You can also help to maintain good customer relations by handling challenging customers calmly and intelligently.

Valid Identification How do you keep out of trouble? Although Missouri law does not require you to card anyone, it does prohibit you from serving alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. Therefore, in order to protect yourself and your employer, you should check a customer’s identification for every alcohol sale if they appear to be younger than 40. To limit your risk of receiving a violation, all ID’s should be valid, meaning they must be accepted by the state and they must be current (not expired). The following ID’s are accepted by the State of Missouri for identification purposes when selling alcohol: Valid Driver’s License (of any state or U. S. Territory) Valid Non–Driver’s License (of any state or U. S. Territory) Valid Military ID Valid Passport

21 or Older? How old is your customer? Missouri State law prohibits serving intoxicating liquor to any person under the age of 21. You should see an ID before serving any alcohol, no matter what story the customer gives you. If a customer claims to have left their identification in the car or at home, ask them to get it. Or, if a customer says that they have purchased drinks here before and have shown their ID to another server, request to see it again. You always have the right to refuse a sale if someone doesn’t show you their ID.

21 or Older? When someone wants to buy alcohol from you, it is recommended that you follow these steps: Step 1. Ask for his/her ID. Step 2. Hold the ID. The customer should take it out of his/her wallet and hand it to you. Step 3. Check the ID for their age. They must be 21 or older. It is recommended to card anyone that looks under 40 years old. Step 4. Look at the ID’s appearance for signs that it is a fake.

21 or Not? (21 or Older) Doing the Math • Customers must be 21 or over to purchase alcohol in the State of Missouri. You should ask to see a customer’s ID, Have various tools like a flashlight or ID Checking Guide readily at hand to help you easily determine if a person is 21 or over. • Under 21 licenses are printed in a vertical format, this license shows the person was under 21 when the license was issued, if you can’t determine that they are now 21 then you should decline the sale • 21 st birthday indicated in red letters and numbers in the middle of the license, focus on this instead of the date of birth to avoid math problems, if the date in red hasn’t occurred then they are underage, and you should refuse the sale!

What should I look for on a real Missouri Drivers License or ID card? Missouri changed the look of its drivers license in 2019 to comply with the federal Real ID Act. To obtain a Real ID compliant drivers license or ID card in Missouri you will need to know your Social Security number (you do not need to bring your Social Security card), and a birth certificate issued in the United States. You will also need to provide proof of Missouri residence with a utility bill, paycheck, or bank statement and proof of a name change such as a marriage license, if applicable. Front over 21 Back Federal Real ID complaint licenses will have a gold star in the upper right-hand corner. If it sates “Not for real ID purposes” it doesn’t meet the requirements for boarding commercial flights or entering federal property but is acceptable for use when purchasing alcoholic beverages.

What does all those things on the back of Missouri’s license mean? You should always look at the back of each ID you look at. Many novelty ID’s look like a real license on the front but when they are turned over, they are either blank or have wording that indicated it is a novelty or fake ID. The current Missouri license will have a solid black image of the state of Missouri in the upper left-hand corner. When someone presents proof that they have completed the boater safety course, are disabled or a veteran of the U. S. Military, the Department of Revenue will print symbols accordingly. The 3 D barcode contains the same information that is displayed on the front of the ID and allows cash register systems to scan the date of birth information to either allow or reject a sale of alcohol or tobacco products. Boater Safety Indicator Permanent Disability Indicator Military Veteran Indicator 3 D Barcode

What are the security features on Missouri’s licenses? Missouri has three additional security features built into the license which can assist you in determining if the identification is a copy. 1. Each card is laminated with an optical variable pattern with the text “Missouri”, stars and the state seal. 2. Laser perforations that say “MO” that overlap the small “ghost” photo on the ID. 3. The laminate shows in ultraviolet ink “MO”, stars and the state seal when placed directly under a black light source.

What are the security features on Missouri’s licenses? Missouri issues a paper temporary license to all new license persons and those that renew their license. The Department of Motor Vehicles fee office will punch the word “void” on your old license when it is renewed. Keep in mind that once the license is punched with “void” it is no longer acceptable for use in purchasing alcohol. Applicants will receive a temporary license; new licenses will be mailed to your home within 7 to 10 business days • 1. Expiration Date (only valid for 30 days) • 2. State Seal and the word “temporary” are printed with temperature sensitive ink, if you blow warm air on the blue seal it will disappear and then reappear as it cools back off. • 3. Photo (very important for you to compare to the person presenting it to you) • 4. Persons name, date of birth and mailing Information

Are there tools that can help me check ID’s? You should always make sure that you visually examine every ID. It is critical that you have adequate lighting so you can see all the security features and sometimes special lighting such as a blacklight (UV light) is helpful in low light situations. You are not expected to know what every states drivers license and ID cards look like, so a current ID checking guide is a good resource to have available. These are available online and liquor enforcement officers can sometimes provide them to your business during store inspections.

What do I do when I spot a fake ID? Refuse to serve. Refusing to serve is the first priority. Notify the customer. Tell the customer that fake ID’s will not be accepted. By doing this, you also help establish a reputation for your business that discourages minors from using a fake ID. Inform the other clerks and manager. Let your co-workers know about the fake ID so that no one will mistakenly serve the person later. Document the incident. Logging information about the incident is the most important thing to do for legal purposes. Write down a description of the customer, license information, and the time and date of the occurrence. Notify local law enforcement.

Other clues to watch for • Why is this customer acting suspiciously? People who are trying to get away with something illegal often display clues that signal that something is wrong. • Body language and other behavior can often indicate that the ID an individual is using is either a fake or borrowed identification. Be aware of inability to make eye contact, nervous fidgeting, and wearing items that obscure a clear vision of their face like sunglasses or ball caps. • Pay attention to the contents of their wallet. Most adults carry numerous forms of identification in their wallet (i. e. insurance card, credit cards, etc. ). • If you are uncertain about the initial identification given to you, you may want to ask for one or two more secondary forms of identification, such as credit cards, insurance cards, a U. S. passport, or a student ID. If the customer is reluctant or unwilling to show you secondary forms of identification, this behavior should then raise a red flag, indicating that you may want to refuse the sale. • If you see certain customers acting suspiciously by always looking around, trying to pass their friends alcohol, etc. , make sure the other servers are aware of the problem. It is important that other servers know who is acting suspiciously and who needs to leave.

Buying for a minor How do minors procure alcohol? Unfortunately, some adults will break the law and provide alcohol to minors. Thus there may be a legal sale to an adult initially, but then the alcohol is given to a minor, which is illegal. If you think an adult is purchasing for an underage person, you do have the right to refuse the sale. In addition, Missouri has a social hosting law that states if you own, occupy or have legal control of property, you will not allow persons under 21 years of age to possess or consume alcohol, and it also requires that if minors are drinking, you are required to stop it. The social hosting law applies to licensed businesses and their employees, not just homeowners. Homeowners that violate the social hosting law can receive a fine, jail time and potentially civil liability.

Buying for a minor • • While homeowners have no excuse for social hosting incidents, Missouri law allows servers like you a “good faith defense” if you looked at one of the forms of acceptable identification and the person was later found to be under 21 years of age. Keep in mind that the “good faith defense” requires you to not only look at an acceptable form of identification, but you must also ensure that the photo and the physical description on the ID matches the person you are carding. If you do this, no penalties will be imposed against you or the business you work for.

Standard practices when checking ID’s Always operate with the premise that a customer is under 21 years of age until they prove otherwise Never assume you can judge a person's age. Makeup, hairstyle, and clothing can make a person appear older than they are. Ask for a proper form of ID and no ID means no sale. Establish a policy of carding hard and minors will avoid your business. Set minimum carding ages for persons appearing to be under 40 and require them to show identification before a sale and post your policy. Look at the permanent facial features (shape of nose and eyes) because these are not easily changed. Check the physical description on the identification (height, weight, eye color) and compare it to the person.

Standard practices when checking ID’s Know your establishment’s policies. Know what to do if you have a law violation. It is not enough to just check ID’s you must also ask yourself "How well am I checking each ID? “ What happens if you don’t bother to do a thorough ID check? You might be thinking "Who is going to know? " The answer could be your local police department. Occasionally the law enforcement officers will conduct compliance checks to ensure the servers are checking the identification of young–looking customers. Through these compliance checks, it has been found that although many servers are asking for the identification, they are not closely looking at it and serving to the minor anyway. The servers are either confused when trying to figure out the date of birth or they simply are not paying attention to the details.

Criminal and administrative actions All liquor law violations committed by you are criminal offenses in the state of Missouri or by local city ordinances and may result in an arrest. Violations of state liquor laws are typically misdemeanor offenses carrying a maximum penalty of 1 year in jail and/or a $1000 fine for the employee. City court fines typically range up to a $500 fine for the employee. You, and the business you work for could possibly face civil lawsuits seeking monetary damages stemming from an underlying offense of serving liquor to a minor or serving liquor to an intoxicated individual. Nationally, there has been an increase in such lawsuits and large jury awards have resulted. Missouri is no exception to this trend. It is better to err on the side of caution and refuse to sell or serve to someone you shouldn’t than risk a mistake which could jeopardize your job and your freedom! You have the right to refuse service to anyone if you don’t discriminate against someone due to their race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.

Criminal and administrative actions The business you work for can also be held accountable for your bad conduct. In the event of a liquor violation, the business can be subjected to disciplinary action from the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control or in some cases by local government. Your actions as an employee may impact the establishments ability to continue to sell and dispense liquor. The disciplinary actions that can be taken against a business can result in: • • Warning Fines (for each violation) Suspensions (1 day to 365 days) Revocation (5 years)

Service to intoxicated persons Why is it important to prevent intoxication? Because people who are intoxicated are more likely to experience increased health risks and/or harm themselves or others by driving drunk, fighting and any number of illegal activities that they would not engage in if they were sober. A person with an. 08 blood alcohol content is intoxicated for driving purposes. Even if they are not driving you should not sell to them, it can result in the employee being issued a summons or arrested and the business can have administrative actions taken against them. Preventing intoxication, or handling it properly if it has already happened, will help to keep your customers safe and prevent liability for yourself and your establishment.

Know your establishments policy on dealing with intoxicated persons What should you do when an intoxicated individual tries to enter your establishment? Knowing your establishments policies will help you decide what actions to take. Here are some options used by many businesses: • don’t allow them to enter your business. • offer alternatives such as food, non-alcoholic beverages, etc. • offer to call a taxi. • Get management involved when needed. • ask the customer to leave. • If all else fails or the customer is belligerent or combative call local law enforcement!

Learn the 6 actions to take when dealing with intoxicated customers. 1. Be Aware: Typical signs and symptoms of an intoxicated person include: loud speech overly animated or entertaining drinking alone or too fast foul language 2. Be Observant and look for indications that the person is not in full control. As an example, does the person fumble, seem unsteady on their feet, and/or slur their speech? 3. Communicate with the Customer effectively to reduce the potential for escalating the situation. 4. Communicate with other Employees, If your establishment’s policy allows an intoxicated individual to enter, communicate with other staff to make sure they know there may be a potential problem. 5. Alert other Businesses by Establishing a call chain in your area to alert other businesses if you think you see an intoxicated person heading for their door. 6. Don’t use the word "Drunk“, it tends to make intoxicated people defensive and angry.

Awareness List of 12 likely signs of visible intoxication: 1. Loud speech 2. Overly animated or entertaining 3. Argumentative or Annoying other guests or servers 4. Aggressive or belligerent 5. Making inappropriate comments about others 6. Inappropriate sexual advances 7. Boisterous or Foul language 8. Bloodshot, glassy eyes 9. Slurred speech 10. Rambling conversation, loss of train of thought 11. Swaying, staggering or falling down 12. Drowsy/Falling asleep

Observe the customer • Just because a person is exhibiting one or even several of these signs does not necessarily mean the person is intoxicated. A sober person may exhibit some of these signs, too. • Ultimately, you must use your own judgment to decide whether a customer is intoxicated. These signs are intended to help you make an informed judgment. • It is more than good business to err on the side of caution. It protects your license from suspension and you and/or your business from civil lawsuits. • It is your responsibility to be observant and notice when a customer is not in full control. If the customer is fumbling, seems unsteady, or slurs his/her speech, the customer is most likely intoxicated. You should not serve this person any more alcohol. • Remember! you and the establishment you work for are prohibited by the law from selling, serving, delivering or allowing possession of any alcohol to an individual who appears to be intoxicated. If you serve alcohol to an individual who appears to be intoxicated, a violation can be issued to your employer and a criminal citation issued to you.

Communication with the customer • As a server, it is your job to communicate with the customer. This can be difficult at times. Not all customers will appreciate your telling them that they have had enough to drink. How you tell the customer that they have had enough to drink could mean the difference between cooperation and an argument. • As you are communicating with the customer, keep in mind both verbal and nonverbal communication. Verbal communication includes the words you use, your tone of voice, and what you say. Nonverbal communication means the body language that you use to get across your message • On the other hand, nonverbal communication is a combination of body posture, tone of voice, facial expressions, and eye contact. If you are shaking your finger, have your hands on your hips, or are folding your arms across your chest while you tell the intoxicated individual that he/she has had too much to drink, you are more likely to provoke anger and an argumentative response. • If you keep your hands to your side, make eye contact, and use a nice tone of voice along with a pleasant smile while you are telling the customer that they have had too much to drink, you are more likely to get a non-hostile and cooperative response. • It is essential for you to know that the right kind of both verbal and nonverbal communication, also called body language, is very important in effective communication.

Suggestions on communication Other things you should do while communicating with an intoxicated person: • Remain calm. Don't get upset with the customer. • Keep all your statements simple and direct. Get to the point and tell them that they have had too much to drink. • Don't take any negative remarks personally that are directed at you. • When communicating, use "I" statements. "I think you have had too much to drink" is much better than "You are wasted. " • Present some solutions to the problem. Ask the customer if they would like some food, a non-alcoholic beverage, a ride home. • Avoid touching the customer. • Get help if help is needed. Don't be afraid to have other employees help you deal with a difficult situation.

Other actions Communicate With Other Employees • It is best to try to prevent problems, but sometimes problems will arise. If you see a potential problem in your establishment, first notify other employees. Then notify your supervisor. It is best for everyone at the establishment to be aware of a potential problem before it develops into an actual problem. Alert Other Businesses • Along with notifying other employees and your supervisor, if you notice the intoxicated individual leaving your establishment, it is advised that you notify nearby establishments. That way they can be made aware of a potential problem they may have to deal with. Do Not Use the "D" Word • If you are a server, remember how to communicate. Don't call someone a "drunk. " People hate being called names. Calling a person a drunk will most likely provoke hostility. Remember to use "I" statements. Be aware of your body language (nonverbal communication). Offer To Call A Taxi • If someone has become intoxicated, try to provide them with a safe ride home

When you need to stop service • First, you must be familiar with the potential signs and symptoms of intoxication. We discussed earlier how to determine when it is time to cut off service to a customer. You should inform all other servers and managers in order to prevent the guest from finding an additional source of drinks. • During shift changes, departing servers should indicate the level of consumption of guests and discuss possible problem situations to the servers just coming on shift. • If the intoxicated customer becomes violent, don't hesitate to call the police. If a violent act occurs in your establishment, you are legally obligated to contact local law enforcement and then cooperate with them and the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. • Although many of the potential signs of intoxication that you have learned about are visible and obvious, others are subtle and not as easy to see. You need to be alert and observant in order to help ensure that you do not serve alcohol to intoxicated individuals. Taking the six actions discussed earlier in this course, trying to prevent the problem, and stopping service if necessary, will help keep your customers safe and prevent you and your employer from being held legally liable.

What about third-party sales? Be aware of your surroundings including illegal activity in the store, parking lot, or sidewalk. As a seller of alcohol, you need to understand the various ways minors try to obtain alcohol. Be alert for signs of potential underage and third-party transactions. If you have reason to believe that someone is buying alcohol for someone under the age of 21. Then don't make that sale! Two common methods for underage persons to obtain alcohol are: • Underage persons will often shoulder–tap an adult to purchase alcohol for them. This typically involves an underage person asking a stranger to purchase alcohol for them. Underage patrons will stand near the front doors or approach several people in the parking lot asking them to purchase for them. Pay attention to the minors and the behavior of the stranger. If you believe they are buying for an underage person, ask them “we have issues with kids trying to get adults to buy alcohol for them, did anyone approach you about buying for them? ”. Let the customer know your business doesn’t tolerate underage transactions and that you cooperate with law enforcement. If you have any doubts, politely refuse the sale. • Hand–off sales are usually done by friends and acquaintances of minors. One or two legal age persons will go into the store to purchase for the underage friends. If you see a carload of kids pull up and you suspect a hand–off, then you have every right to refuse the sale.

What should I do if illegal or violent acts happen where I work? Every licensed liquor business and their employees are required to immediately contact law enforcement whenever they know or should have known that a violent or an illegal act occurred at the business. It is recommended that you call 911 to report these types of incidents because those phones are always recorded and therefore there will be a record that you called. You should keep in mind that most of these events occur during busy times such as Friday or Saturday evenings. These are the same times that law enforcement calls for service are also at their highest, so it is imperative that you don’t delay calling. Arguments between people, especially those that have been drinking alcohol can quickly escalate into a violent confrontation. It is a lot easier on you, the business and the people involved if law enforcement can arrive before the situation gets out of hand. Your prompt actions in these situations help keep your customers safe and reduce the businesses chances of civil liability.

Tobacco sales On December 20, 2019, the President signed legislation that raised the federal minimum age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years. It is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product, including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes to anyone under 21. While it's now federally mandated, 19 states and the District of Columbia had already raised the minimum age on Tobacco products to 21. Employees that sell to underage persons face minimum fines ranging from $25 for a first violation to $250 for third and subsequent violations. The businesses can face administrative actions from the Food and Drug Administration. With this new requirement it is recommended that you request ID from any customer that looks under 30 before the sale of any tobacco product.

Are tobacco vending machines allowed? Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco may not be sold through vending machines or self-service displays , except in facilities where persons under the age of 18 are prohibited from entering. Keep in mind that if you put cigarettes into a vending machine with other food and beverage items this rule will still apply. Customers should not be able to pick up tobacco products in your business and bring them to the register. All tobacco product sales should be done face to face, which means the customer should have to ask for the product and the employee can then obtain the product for the customer.

Are there any warning signs that I must post in my business? The required alcohol warning signs should be displayed in an area easily viewed by the public. They can be obtained by contacting the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. WARNING: DRINKING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES DURING PREGNANCY MAY CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS. Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control STATE OF MISSOURI Jefferson City

Are there any warning signs that I must post in my business? This sign is optional, but we encourage businesses to post it in a prominent location to discourage minors. These are available from the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control

What do I do once I have read all the course material? Once you are confident you understand the materials contained in this course you can take the written test. • You will pay at the start of the test process with either a credit/debit card or Pay. Pal. If you do not have a credit/debit card or Pay. Pal account, you can purchase a preloaded credit/debit card or Pay. Pal card at most major retailers to complete the transaction. • It is very important that you make sure you include your name, street address, city, state and zip code when you complete the test registration. This ensures that we can mail your server license to you. Please use the address where you receive mail from the U. S. Post Office. • Upon successful completion of the test you will be able to print a certificate of completion, which serves as your proof of completion until you receive your license in the mail. A score of 80% is required in order to pass the 12 -question test. • If your employer reimburses you for the cost of the license, you will have the opportunity to print a receipt upon completing the transaction. If you fail to pass the written test you will be provided with a link that will take you back to the course material so you can review the material again before taking the test again. You are provided five total attempts to pass the test without paying an additional fee.

The next step of the server license process is to pay the license fee and take the written test. Once you have paid the license fee you will be given five opportunities to pass the written test without being charged an additional testing fee. We only accept Credit/Debit cards or a Pay. Pal account for payment. If you do not have one, we recommend that you obtain a prepaid credit card or Pay. Pal card sold at most retail locations. If you are ready to proceed, click here