As we have done in years past, for the 2024 Southern California Homebrewer’s Festival (SCHF) it is required that all clubs pouring at the event have at least one person in attendance at the event who is Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) certified.

In 2017, California passed AB-1221 which sets a new RBS requirement for all alcohol servers and managers in the state. The new RBS requirement went into effect in the state on July 1, 2022.  The new RBS certification is required for SCHF 2024.

The club member that will be representing their club at SCHF 2024 should send the following information to rbscert@calhomebrewers.org:

• Full name (first and last)
• Email Address
• Name of the Club being represented
• Days they plan to be at SCHF: Friday, Saturday, or Both
• Certification number

Completed certifications must be submitted no later than April 21, 2024.
You can submit the information at https://forms.gle/8ktW4KdjHyh87BTD9 or send via email to rbscert@calhomebrewers.org.

Obtaining training and certification

Under the California State certification standard, in order to attend training, whether online or in-person, the individual must first register with the state as an Alcohol Server. Registration is done on the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) website at: https://abcbiz.abc.ca.gov.

Once registered you have your choice of where to receive training including whether you want to take it online or in-person. The ABC website has a list of verified providers. You will need to make note of your registration number and use it to register for your course with whichever training provider you choose. Once you complete the training you will need to return to the ABC website and take the RBS certification exam. Upon successful completion of the exam your dashboard on the ABC website will be updated to show your certification, which will be good for 3 years.

While you have your choice of where and how to take the training, you can find additional details about the training/certification process at https://www.rbspermit.com.  (This is not meant to serve as an endorsement of RBSPermit.com and the California Homebrewers Association is not affiliated with the RBSPermit.com in any way.)

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions (not covered below) please feel free to reach out to rbscert@calhomebrewers.org and you will receive a response from one of the CHA board members.

• Does the RBS certified member have to be at the pouring booth all day, both days?
  No. We do not expect this person to monitor or “police” pouring activities, but to simply be a resource for their fellow club members with regard to best alcohol service practices.
  
• I had a RBS certification prior to the new law taking effect and the date is still valid. Do I still need to complete the ABC’s RBS certification process?
  Yes. All alcohol servers are required to complete ABC’s RBS three-step certification process. You must register in the RBS Portal, take training from an authorized RBS training provider, and pass your ABC Alcohol Server Certification exam within 30 days of completing the training. If you completed this process in the past 1-2 years then that certification is still good. If you are unsure, please reach out to rbscert@calhomebrewers.org.
  
• Can I use my LEAD certification to meet the RBS requirement for SCHF 2024?
  No. Under AB-1221, LEAD training/certification no longer meets the state’s RBS certification requirements and cannot be used for the SCHF RBS requirement.
  
• Does certification have to be completed before the campsite call-out?
  No. If your club commits to pouring at the event then they must have at least one club member RBS certified at the event. Proof of certification will be required before the event, no later than April 21, 2024, but RBS certification will not affect the call-out.
  
• Does CHA reimburse for RBS training?
  Yes. As we have done in past years, we will reimburse up to $15 per club for an individual to obtain training and certification. (Multiple persons in a club may want to obtain RBS certification, but the CHA will reimburse the cost of training for only 1 person per club.)
  
• Does it matter where I receive the RBS training?
  Yes. The State of California requires that you obtain the new training only from authorized training providers. Once you create your server account on the ABC’s RBS website you will be able to see Training Providers at the top of the page, for both in-person and online courses.
  
• How long does the training take?
  Most online training vendors are self-paced and the amount of time may vary between students. In-person training providers will also vary. It is expected that the training will take 1.5 – 2.0 hours.
  
• If I obtain certification for SCHF 2024 will I have to obtain certification again for SCHF 2025?
  No. The RBS certification is good for 3 years.
  

If you have any questions not covered above please feel free to reach out to rbscert@calhomebrewers.org.

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