ProServe is Alberta's responsible liquor service and sales training program. Certification is mandatory for workers in specified positions.

ProServe does not replace the on-the-job training, knowledge or experience provided or required by a worker's employer or special event licensee. It does not include information on all liquor laws or AGLC policies.

ProServe is a social responsibility training program designed to reduce:

• Underage drinking
• Over-consumption of liquor
• Impaired driving and
• Liquor-related harms and violence

A bit of history: In 2004, AGLC launched ASIP, or the Alberta Server Intervention Program, an industry-led responsible beverage service training program for all workers who serve or sell liquor. ASIP was created from other responsible liquor service training programs to provide standardised social responsibility training to liquor industry workers across Alberta.

In 2008, ASIP was renamed to ProServe.

Successfully completing ProServe helps ensure workers understand what duty of care is and how to prevent foreseeable harm to customers, guests, co-workers and the public. It also helps staff and volunteers understand some of Alberta's liquor laws and AGLC's policies so they can provide safe, responsible liquor service.

Private clubs and special events licensees have the same legal responsibilities as businesses that sell or serve liquor for profit. Insurance companies may require that people selling or serving liquor at these locations are ProServe-certified. Contact your provider or review the terms of your rental agreement for more information.

ProServe certification is mandatory for the following full-time and part-time staff:

• Positions where liquor is provided under the authority of a Class A, B, D, E, F and Duty-Free licence (excluding Class D - Sacramental Wine Resale licence):
  • Licensed premises owners who are responsible for directly managing a licensed premises
  • Licensed premises managers, supervisors, retailers, bartenders, servers, greeters, hosts and delivery service drivers;
  • Security staff (directly employed or contracted by the licensee), and owners and managers of a company contracted to provide security.
• Positions where liquor is provided under the authority of an SEL Public Resale - Commercial liquor licence:
  • Managers, supervisors, bartenders, servers and drink ticket sellers;
  • Security staff (directly employed or contracted by the licensee); and
  • Owners and managers of a company contracted to provide security.
• Positions where liquor is provided under the authority of an SEL Public Resale - Community liquor licence:
  • The licensee and designate(s); and
  • A minimum of 25% of all bartenders/servers on-site.
• Persons registered with AGLC as a liquor agency and their employees, or a third-party agent acting on their behalf, whose duties include the sampling of liquor products.

Other SMART certification(s) may be required for the work you do.

Persons requiring ProServe certification must be certified within 30 days of their employment start date or before the expiration date on their certificate. Liquor industry workers selling or serving liquor for Commercial and Community Public Resale Special Events must be certified before the event.

More information about ProServe policies can be found in AGLC's Handbooks at aglc.ca.

ProServe certification is not required for staff working full-time or part-time:

• As kitchen staff, bus persons and cleaning staff in licensed premises
• Where liquor is provided under the authority of a Private Special Event licence
• Where liquor is provided under the authority of a Class C licence (Note: the Board may require the licensee to meet ProServe training requirements if the Class C licensee has violated the GLCA, GLCR, or Board policies) and;
• Where liquor is provided under the authority of a Class D Sacramental Wine Resale licence.

MINORS: Any person under 18 years of age is a minor. Minors may not serve or sell liquor, or work in licensed premises where minors are prohibited. Minors are not eligible for ProServe certification.

See AGLC's liquor policies, online at aglc.ca, for more information.

Licensee staff and public special event workers must provide proof of ProServe certification at the request of an AGLC Inspector.

Licensees with uncertified staff could face penalties such as a warning, fine, liquor licence suspension or termination.

Liquor legislation and policies are online at aglc.ca.

An industry worker's ProServe certification will be placed into conditional status when an employee at a licensed premises is found to violate any of the following:

• Section 75 GLCA: give, sell or supply liquor to a minor;
• Section 75.1 GLCA: sell or provide liquor to an intoxicated person, permit an intoxicated person to consume liquor or take part in a gaming activity or provincial lottery that is conducted in the licensed premises; and
• AGLC Board policy: failure to ask for proof of age for those persons who appear to be under 25 years of age.

Policy and program content may change after industry workers are certified. Industry workers are responsible for reviewing program content and AGLC's policies to keep their knowledge current.

AGLC's liquor and gaming policies are online at aglc.ca.

See the Frequently Asked Questions and Contact Us pages, or contact SMART Programs: