Training

Serving It Right

Required by law of every licensee, manager and server who sells or serves alcohol. Licence terms add anyone delivering it — including a third-party app’s driver, who must also be 19 or older (common carriers such as Canada Post are exempt). At special events, servers can take the shorter Special Event Server course at any size; permit holders and managers can use it only for events under 500 people.

Who issues it
Province of BC (Responsible Service BC)
Cost
The course is free; the exam is $40 (Special Event Server: $25). Valid 5 years.
Forms and pages

Do you need it?

You need it if

  • You hold a liquor licence or permit, manage licensed premises, or serve or deliver alcohol.
Where this comes from

Sources

How to get it

  1. 1

    Do the free course online

    Any time, on the Responsible Service BC site.

  2. 2

    Pass the exam

    $40 plus tax, with three attempts included; you need 80%.

  3. 3

    Print your certificate

    From “My Certifications” in your account — and reprint it from there if it’s lost.

Where this comes from

Sources

Once you have it

  • It is valid for five years from the date you passed the exam.
Where this comes from

Sources

What comes next

Food primary liquor licenceLiquor and Cannabis Regulation BranchSpecial event permit (liquor)Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch

Which businesses need it

Restaurants & cafésOnly if you serve alcoholBreweries, wineries, cideries & distilleriesMaking beer, wine, cider, mead or spirits.

The rules behind this page

Last checked 9 October 2026. We check this guide regularly against Island Health, provincial and municipal sources, but regulations and laws change often and we can’t guarantee it is complete or current. Confirm with Island Health and your municipality before you apply, build or sell.

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