ProServe Liquor Staff Training is the new name for ASIP. We have made some improvements to the website and changed the look, but the program is essentially the same.

The ultimate goal of ProServe Liquor Staff Training is to promote responsible liquor service in Alberta.  

Training topics include legal responsibilities and liabilities of licensees and servers, identifying intoxication, responsible service strategies, handling situations involving minors, and discontinuing or refusing service or sale of alcohol. Staff training helps to reduce the problems caused by underage drinking, over-consumption, impaired driving and liquor-related violence.

Be sure to advise your insurance company that your staff have completed the ProServe Liquor Staff Training course. ProServe Liquor Staff Training can give your staff the knowledge and confidence they need to help reduce your risk of liability and to enhance the safety of your premises.

A BIT OF HISTORY: In 2004, the AGLC launched ASIP (Alberta Server Intervention Program), an industry-led training program for all staff who sell and serve liquor. ASIP was developed from a number of separate programs in order to provide standardized training across the province.

Under AGLC policy, Class A, B, D, E, Duty Free, and Commercial Public Special Event licensees are required to have staff certified under ProServe Liquor Staff Training. Training is being phased in according to the following timeline:

Phase 1:	June 30, 2006	One person trained per premises
Phase 2:	January 1, 2007	One person trained per shift, per licensed room
Phase 3:	January 1, 2010	All people serving or selling liquor under Class A, B, D, E, Duty Free, and Commercial Public Resale Special Event licenses

Effective January 1, 2010, all new hires working in licensed premises, either full or part-time, with the exception of kitchen staff and bus persons, will have 30 days from their employment start date to successfully complete ProServe.

• Servers (waiters/waitresses)
• Hosts/hostesses
• Security staff
• Retail liquor clerks
• Owners, managers, and supervisors
• Liquor representatives
• Liquor merchandisers

Licensees with uncertified staff after the January 1, 2010 deadline could face penalties such as a warning, fine, and/or liquor license suspension.

All liquor industry workers who successfully complete ProServe training are issued a laminated card that must be presented to an AGLC inspector upon request. ProServe certification applies to the individual named on the certificate, not to the venue where that person works. A person with valid ProServe certification may use it at any licensed premises in Alberta.

ProServe is valid for five years.

As stated in Section 1.6.3 of the AGLC Licensee Handbook, ProServe training is not required for:

• persons involved in the sale or service of liquor while working at public events where liquor is provided under the authority of a Special Event Licence Public Resale (Community Event);
• persons involved in the sale or service of liquor at private events where liquor is provided under the authority of a Private Special Event licence; and
• persons involved in the sale or service of liquor at functions where liquor is provided under the authority of a Class C licence. (Note: The Board may require staff at a Class C licensed premises to meet ProServe training requirements if the licensee has been found to violate the GLA, GLR or Board policies.)

ProServe is available to Special Event Public Resale (Community Event) and Private Special Event Resale/Nonsale licensees at no charge (AGLC Licensee Handbook, Section 1.6.16).

Liquor industry workers selling or serving liquor or providing security services under the authority of a Special Event Public Resale (Commercial Event) are required to complete ProServe Liquor Staff Training (AGLC Licensee Handbook, Section 1.6.2b).

Special Event Public Resale (Commercial Event) licensees do not qualify for the ProServe fee exemption.

Please contact the SMART Training office for more information. Toll-free in Alberta, please call 1-877-436-6336 Mondays through Fridays, between 8:15 am until 4:00 pm. Questions about licensing can be directed to 1-800-272-8876.

Registration is available online at proserve.aglc.ca.

Online training costs $25.

Self-directed study (with a printed manual and DVD) costs $50.

A facilitated classroom seminar costs $50.

GST is added to all prices. Shipping charges for the self-directed course also apply.

A Train-the-Trainer workshop is available for a cost of $355, plus GST. This will allow the business owner or delegate to provide in-house sessions for all staff for just the cost of the printed manuals.

To register, or if you have questions, contact ProServe at 1-877-436-6336.

Your results are provided immediately after you take the exam online. For the self-directed or seminar options, the exams must be mailed in for marking. If you pass, you will receive your certificate and wallet-sized card in the mail. If you do not pass, you will receive a letter informing you of your next steps. Please allow 2-3 weeks for the grading and mailing process.

Liquor industry workers who have moved to Alberta and have completed a responsible liquor service training course in BC or any other Canadian jurisdiction within the last five years can apply to the SMART Training office to have their training recognized in Alberta.

• Liquor industry workers without an existing SMART Training account can visit the ProServe website and select "Register" from the vertical menu. Click here for details on how to create an online account.
• Ensure the account shows a current mailing address and the licensed establishment the employee will be working for in Alberta. Apartment residents must include a suite number as part of the mailing address.
• If the card or certificate issued by another provincial training program does not include the date the staff member completed the course (usually the first six digits of the certificate number), the employee must contact the home office where training was taken to request a document that verifies his/her program completion date. This can be faxed to (780) 447-7550 or emailed to info@proserve.aglc.ca.

Certification approved for transfer will be issued for a period of five years from the date the out of province training was successfully completed. A wallet-sized ProServe card and certificate will be mailed to the address on the employee's SMART Training account.

The original documents belong to the individual who has been certified; however, all liquor industry workers must provide a copy of his/her certification to the employing company within 30 days of their date of hire to confirm program completion. Liquor industry workers are required to carry their ProServe card on their person at all times while on shift.

Additional inquires can be directed to the SMART Training office, Mondays through Fridays, from 8:15 am to 4:00 pm MST. Toll-free in Alberta, please call 1-877-436-6336. Liquor industry workers living outside the province of Alberta are invited to email their inquiry to info@proserve.aglc.ca.

Responsible gambling awareness programs from outside the province of Alberta are not transferable. Please visit www.smartprograms.aglc.ca to complete the programs required for the respective positions.

ProServe is mandatory under AGLC policy. Licensees who employ non-certified workers after January 1, 2010 can be issued a warning, fine, license suspension or licence termination.

AGLC policies are available online, click here to view Liquor Policies.

For information about ProServe Liquor Staff Training or to register for training, please visit http://proserve.aglc.ca.

Detailed information about ProServe may be obtained by:

Phone: Contact the SMART Training office toll-free at 1-877-436-6336 during business hours (Mondays through Fridays, from 8:15 am until 4:00 pm). The SMART Training office is closed on weekends and statutory holidays.

Fax: (780) 447-7550

Email: info@proserve.aglc.ca

ProServe Liquor Staff Training (ProServe)
Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
50 Corriveau Avenue
St. Albert, Alberta T8N 3T5

If you are experiencing problems with alcohol, gambling, tobacco or other drugs - AADAC can help. Call 1-866-33AADAC (1-866-332-2322) for information, support, referral or visit www.aadac.com