ProServe (formerly the Alberta Server Intervention Program, or ASIP) is a responsible liquor service training program.

Since 2004, the program has helped liquor industry workers learn how to sell and serve liquor responsibly, no matter where they work. This includes selling closed liquor to a person at a liquor store or selling and serving open liquor or mixed drinks to a person who will drink it where it was bought (in a bar, restaurant, stadium, casino). It also includes other jobs connected with liquor service (for example, a delivery service, security, liquor sampling, selling liquor tickets).

The information in ProServe provides workers with training on the social responsibilities related to serving or selling liquor. It does not replace the on-the-job training, knowledge or experience provided by or required by a worker's employer or special event host, nor does it include information on all AGLC liquor laws or policies.

ProServe is a social responsibility program designed to reduce underage drinking, over-consumption of liquor, impaired driving, and liquor-related harms and violence. Anyone involved in alcohol sales and service in Alberta requires ProServe certification.

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 created from other responsible liquor service training programs, providing standardised social responsibility training for liquor industry workers across Alberta.

ProServe helps sellers and servers of liquor to understand what duty of care is, and how to prevent foreseeable harm to customers and patrons. It also helps staff and volunteers understand some of Alberta's liquor laws and what AGLC's policies are.

Private clubs, special events and community fundraisers have the same legal responsibilities as businesses that sell or serve liquor for profit. For this reason, many insurance companies require that people who sell or serve liquor on premises have ProServe certification. Be sure to tell your insurance provider that liquor industry workers at your licensed premises are ProServe-certified.

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 that are responsible for directly managing a licensed premises
  • Managers and supervisors
  • Liquor retailers
  • Bartenders and servers
  • Greeters and hosts
  • Security staff (directly employed or contracted by the licensee)
  • Owners and managers of a company contracted to provide security
• Positions where liquor is provided under the authority of a Commercial Public Resale Special Event licence:
  • Managers and supervisors
  • Bartenders and servers
  • Drink ticket sellers
  • Security staff (directly employed or contracted by the licensee)
  • Owners and managers of a company contracted to provide security
• Persons registered with the AGLC as a liquor agency and their employees whose duties include the sampling of liquor products.

Other SMART certification(s) may be required for the work you do. Click here to see the certifications required for various positions in the liquor, gaming and retail cannabis industries, as well as the associated costs and timelines for each program.

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 Public Resale Special Event must be certified before the event.

More information about ProServe policies can be found in Section 1.6 of the AGLC Liquor Licensee Handbook, General Merchandise Liquor Store and Retail Liquor Stores Handbooks, and in Section 2.3 of the Liquor Agency Handbook 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 Community Public Resale Special Event licence
• 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 GLA, GLR, or Board policies)
• Where liquor is provided under the authority of a Class D Sacramental Wine Resale licence.

MINORS: Minors (anyone under 18 years of age) do not require ProServe certification. From Section 5.5 of the Liquor Licensee Handbook:

• No minor may enter a Class A Minors Prohibited licensed premises or any other licensed premises where minors are prohibited, except as specified in Sections 5.513 and 5.5.14.
• No minor may work as staff in a Class A Minors Prohibited licensed premises; a Class D licensed retail liquor store, a hotel off sales room, a manufacturer's off sales room, a Class F ferment-on-premises facility; a duty free store; or any other premises where a "minors prohibited" condition has been imposed on the licence.
• A minor employed as table staff in a Class A, B or C licensed premises where minors are allowed may not sell or serve liquor.
• No minor may be employed in a Class E licensed premises.

For more information, see AGLC's liquor policies, online at aglc.ca

CLASS C and SPECIAL EVENTS LICENSEES: Private clubs, special events and community fundraisers have the same legal responsibilities as businesses that sell or serve liquor for profit. For this reason, many insurance companies require that people selling or serving liquor have ProServe certification any time liquor is sold or served on their property.

ProServe is available to Class C, Community Public Resale Special Event and Private Special Event licensees at no charge. For more information, click here or contact us. Toll-free in Alberta, call 1-877-436-6336, Mondays through Fridays, between 8:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Licensee staff and Commercial Public Resale Special Event volunteers must provide proof of ProServe certification at the request of an AGLC Inspector. Failure to show proof of certification (card, Personal Information page, image or photo saved to a mobile device/phone) may result in disciplinary action.

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

Proof of your certification is saved to the Personal Information and Completion Status pages of your SMART Programs account (sign in and follow the on-screen instructions to see it). Print a copy of your card or save an image of it to your mobile device/phone.

If you can't access your account, please contact us. If you can't remember your password, click here to retrieve it.

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.

Note: *applies only to ProServe certifications completed on or after January 1, 2014.

More information is in Section 1.6 of the Liquor Licensee Handbook, online at aglc.ca.

Policy and program content may change after industry workers are certified. Industry workers are responsible for reviewing the program content and the Liquor Licensee Handbook, Retail Liquor Stores Handbook, General Merchandise Liquor Stores Handbook, or Liquor Agency Handbook (at aglc.ca) periodically to keep their knowledge current.

Licensees must keep a log of employees who are ProServe-certified, including the following information:

• Employee name as it appears on the certification card
• SMART Training registration number; and
• Expiry date

Note: Logs are subject to review by the AGLC.

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

More information is on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and Contact Us pages.

You can also contact SMART Programs office:

Phone:	Toll-free in Alberta at 1-877-436-6336, Mondays through Fridays, from 8:15 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Fax:	780-651-7626, addressed to the attention of the SMART Programs.
Email:	info@proserve.aglc.ca
Mail:	SMART Programs c/o AGLC 50 Corriveau Avenue St. Albert, Alberta T8N 3T5
In Person:	We're at the AGLC Head Office in St. Albert. Click on the map to find us.

Note: The SMART Programs office is closed on weekends, statutory holidays, and from December 24^th through January 1^st.