Online Alcohol Server Training and the Erosion of Trust

The dangers of alcohol abuse and overconsumption are well known. But given the severity of those risks, and the prevalence of alcohol in our lives, it’s worth thinking about the systems that are in place to prevent one person’s wild night from having a tragic consequence. 

How bartenders, servers and business owners are trained has significant public health implications. A research paper by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control found “statistically significant reductions in single-vehicle nighttime traffic crashes (those with high percentage of alcohol involvement) by the end of 1989, following the implementation of compulsory server training” in Oregon. 

The California study was released in 1992. Unfortunately, in the decades since, the integrity of instructor-led alcohol server certification has been completely lost as this training has largely moved online. Now, the participation of ‘certified’ servers in actual training is completely unknown and unprovable. 

This isn’t to say that online training is bad — there are significant benefits in terms of accessibility and cost savings for participants. But failing to adapt the way we train alcohol servers to this new reality has significantly compromised training outcomes — and put those important public health benefits in jeopardy. 

Online vs. In-Person Training

Pre-internet and, more critically, pre-Covid, most alcohol server training was done in-person, and testing was closely monitored. Successful participants were then issued a certificate that verified they had received the necessary training, and satisfied the required outcomes. 

That proof of training could be used as a legal defense for a business, their insurance company, or their legal counsel, if they were sued under dram shop laws. (Dram shop laws are legislation designed to protect DUI victims seeking compensation after sustaining long-term injury and disability.)

However, as alcohol server training moved online, businesses lost the ability to demonstrate proof of training to the necessary standards. Even verifying the identity of the participant is difficult — let alone whether or not they took the training or the exam under the prescribed conditions. 

In many cases, now, alcohol server certification can be obtained simply by paying for the certificate — there is little oversight, and no process for independently confirming that training was completed.

All of this begs the question — what value is training if it can’t be confirmed? How can businesses mitigate risk, perform due diligence, and avoid liability, while still benefiting from the convenience and cost-savings of online alcohol server training?

The Current Situation 

Today, the choice is not between in-person and online training, but between verified and unverified training. Verified training involves additional checks — remote proctoring and ID verification — to hold online training to the same standards as in-person. 

Unverified training, on the other hand, involves no additional checks. Individuals, or others on their behalf, can simply create an account, pay for the course and obtain a proof of training card. There is nothing in place to confirm that the course was taken, or that there was any validation of knowledge transfer (ie, an exam.) 

We recently tested numerous online responsible alcohol service training providers with a simple criteria: could a dog complete this training? In many cases, yes. Phoebe, the most certified pug in the world, has successfully completed online alcohol server training, among dozens of other certifications. If a dog can get certified, what value does this training have to prevent fatalities. or as proof of due diligence in the defense of a lawsuit?

The good news is that some regulators insist on verified training processes. Some businesses, whether they are required to or not, only use online training providers that issue verified training. And some insurance companies are proactively looking at training standards/processes in determining rates. 

The world is changing rapidly, and as we rush to adopt new technologies and new ways of doing things, we can’t forget the reason for doing things in the first place. Alcohol server training isn’t a box you check or a form you fill out — it’s a vital defense against serious injury caused by impaired driving. We believe it can be delivered online without losing its legal or public health value. But organizations need to hold it to a higher standard, and demand and invest in verified training. Regulators must adopt consistent, forward-thinking regulatory standards across the board. Only then can we move forward with confidence, knowing that online alcohol server training is as effective as in-person.

We strongly believe that the adoption of verified training standards can save lives while also demonstrating the due diligence of businesses involved in the service of alcohol. Integrity Advocate is very proud that we can be a part of this effort.