Alcohol sales make up a significant portion of most restaurants’ income. If you’re an existing restaurant owner or considering a food service venture, being licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) can greatly boost your business’s profitability.
That being said, having a liquor license is only one part of selling or serving alcohol legally in Ontario. Beyond being designated at a business level, every staff member or associate involved in the sale, service, or delivery of alcohol must be certified individually, a process that requires choosing and completing a qualified training program (like Smart Serve).
Legally speaking, restaurant owners (and other entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry) are responsible for ensuring that employees are properly trained and certified before they work with alcohol.
In this blog post, we’re diving deep into Smart Serve, who needs it, and other important information you should know as a restaurateur.
What is Smart Serve?
Smart Serve is the most popular training program for alcohol sales and service in Ontario. Fully approved by the AGCO, it’s available to all liquor licensees in Ontario and their employees and covers a wide range of business settings, including delivery, food service, and retail.
The program first launched in 1995 and has since issued close to 3 million certificates.
Over the years, Smart Serve has expanded and evolved its programming to reflect changes in the food service industry. Today, it’s offered both in-person and online in 6 different languages.
Note: There are other licensing programs approved by the AGCO. However, these routes only train and certify based on a limited set of circumstances that don’t include standard food service.
Thinking about starting your own restaurant business? Explore these related blogs for more advice!
- What Permits Are Needed to Open a Restaurant in Ontario?
- Ready to Open Your First Restaurant? Here’s Where to Start
- Ways to Reduce Operating Costs as a Restaurant Owner
Who is Required to Have Smart Serve in Ontario?
In a restaurant, any employee who directly or indirectly prepares, sells, or serves alcohol is required to be Smart Serve certified. This includes dedicated bartenders and front-of-house servers.
If you have part- or full-time security staff at your restaurant, they will also require Smart Serve.
Who Doesn’t Need Smart Serve?
Of course, there are a few restaurant jobs that don’t involve food or drink preparation. Smart Serve is not required for these roles, which include:
- Bussers
- Chefs
- Dishwashers
- Hosts
Not Just Restaurants
Ontario’s Smart Serve requirement isn’t limited to only restaurants. Wherever alcohol is made available or served, certification will be mandatory. A few examples include:
- Home delivery services
- Catering services
- Concert or sports venues
- Movie theatres
- Vending carts (including golf courses)
- Pop-up events
- Large quadricycles (also called Pedal Pubs)
How Long Does Smart Serve Take?
One of the great things about Smart Serve is that it’s easily accessible and doesn’t take very long. Smart Serve’s online course only takes about 4 to 5 hours on average. It can be done in a single sitting, or over the course of a few sessions.
Understanding Your Responsibilities as a Restaurant Owner
Any restaurant staff member whose job involves selling or serving alcohol is legally required to have a Smart Serve certification. As the business owner and liquor licensee, it’s your job to verify this. If you don’t, the repercussions could be serious.
When hiring new employees, always ask if they have their Smart Serve certification. You should also do this before moving or promoting a staff member from one role to another.
Keep in mind that Smart Serve certifications are only valid for five years. All holders will need to apply for recertification before their license expires. If they don’t, they’ll be unlicensed and unable to legally take orders, serve, or sell alcoholic beverages.
Interested in buying an existing business? Check out these related blog posts next.
- What is the Average Profit Margin for a Restaurant?
- How Much Does it Cost to Open a Restaurant?
- Can You Buy a Restaurant as an Investor?
Who’s Liable?
Smart Serve can protect your interests as a restaurant owner, but it’s not a get out of jail free card. You (and your staff members) are still required to provide safe, responsible service to every customer even if everyone’s certified.
Smart Serve holders are liable for certain accidents or damages caused by intoxicated patrons, and your employees can have their license revoked, be fined, or face even more severe legal or financial consequences for breaking the law.
It’s not just the individual serving the alcohol who can get in trouble for overserving or breaking the rules. As the restaurant owner, you’ll be on the hook if the actions of an impaired customer cause problems requiring civil litigation. In other words, the restaurant gets sued, not the staff member.
Looking to launch a bar or restaurant in Ontario? Carve Real Estate can help! You can reach us by email at ryan@carverealestate.com or by phone at 416-618-0054.
