Who must have a SIR certificate?

All licensees, managers and staff must obtain SIR certification prior to working in a licensed establishment. SIR certification is not an eligibility criteria for licensing, but it is an operating requirement.

Whether or not you - or your staff - require a Serving It Right certificate generally depends on the type of liquor licence you have. Review the relevant licensee terms and conditions handbook for more details.

Food-Primary Licence (restaurants)

This type of licence is issued to businesses where the primary purpose is the service of food when liquor is being served in the service area. The businesses may use their service area for activities or events that are not food focused, as long as liquor service is not offered. Licensees, managers, servers and all those who may be left in charge need to have a SIR certificate. If you have a catering endorsement, the SIR program must be completed by all licensees, managers and servers working at events.

Liquor-Primary Licence / Liquor-Primary Club Licence (For example: bars, pubs, nightclubs, casinos, stadiums)

Liquor-Primary Licence / Liquor-Primary Club Licence (For example: bars, pubs, nightclubs, casinos, stadiums)

This licence is issued to any business, except those frequented predominantly by minors or that operate in a motor vehicle where the service of liquor is for on-premises consumption. This may include bars, pubs, nightclubs, stadiums, spas, art galleries and cooking schools, etc. Licensees, managers, servers and bartenders in these establishments must all have SIR certificates. If you have a catering endorsement, the SIR program must be completed by all licensees, managers and servers working at events. Flight attendants serving alcohol on the ground must also have SIR certification. Food primary establishments can apply for a liquor primary licence at the same location and operate as a bar or nightclub after a certain hour, such as 9 p.m. Liquor primary establishments can also apply for a food primary licence at the same location and operate as a restaurant and permit minors during specified hours, such as until 7 p.m. A liquor primary and a food primary may not be operated at the same establishment unless the same person holds both licences.

Catering Licence

This type of licence is issued to catering companies to provide a full range of food and beverage services at their clients' events. Licensed caterers can purchase, transport and sell liquor, and may maintain a liquor inventory. Events where liquor is sold by a licensed caterer are considered either residential events or catered events. Licensees, managers and staff serving liquor at events must have a SIR certificate.

Licensee Retail Store Licence (private liquor stores)

Licensee retail stores, commonly known as private liquor stores, may sell all types of liquor. All licensees, managers and sales staff at licensee retail stores must have SIR certificates. 

Wine Stores

There are five types of wine stores, which are authorized to sell only packaged wine for off-premises consumption. All licensees, managers, sales staff, and servers (i.e. staff conducting tastings) in all wine stores, with the exception of sacramental wine stores, must have SIR certificates. 

Special Wine Stores

The special wine store licence permits the sale of 100% BC wine
on grocery store shelves. Wine may be purchased at designated tills or regular
tills. Regardless of the type of till, the staff making the sale must have SIR
certification and be at least 19 years of age. The requirement for SIR certification also applies to
staff taking customer liquor product returns, working in the wine department,
conducting wine sampling, and answering customer questions or making
recommendations about liquor. In addition, the manager supervising the sale and
service of liquor must also have SIR certification and be at least 19 years of
age.

Duty Free Stores

All managers, servers and sales staff, with the exception of ship chandlers, must have SIR certification. 

BC Liquor Stores

All managers and sales staff at BC Liquor Stores must have SIR certificates.

Manufacturer Sampling Areas, On-Site Stores, Lounges and Special Event Areas

SIR certification is required for all licensees, managers, servers, and sales staff.

Rural Agency Stores

Rural agency stores (RAS) are liquor stores situated within larger retail stores such as a grocery store and are typically found in more remote locations. They may sell all types of liquor. SIR certificates are required for agents and sales staff in rural agency stores. The requirement for SIR certification also applies to staff taking customer liquor product returns, conducting sampling, and answering customer questions or making recommendations about liquor. In addition, the manager supervising the sale and service of liquor must also have SIR certification and be at least 19 years of age.

Agents

All agents and sales staff must complete the SIR program, with the exception of foreign representatives of foreign liquor manufacturers.

Care Facilities

Staff responsible for the service of liquor to their patients, residents and guests must complete the SIR program.

Special Event Permit

This permit is issued to an individual, organization or business to sell or serve drinks containing liquor to patrons in the service area under the permit at a special event. Anyone planning to sell liquor in any location that is not licensed or serve or sell liquor in a public place - such as a community hall must apply for a Special Event Permit (SEP). A SEP is not required if your event is hosted within a private residence or a licensed establishment. Special events include both private and public events such as weddings, cultural or sporting events, community festivals, outdoor concerts, etc. The host of the special event (either an individual or a designated representative from a club or other group) must apply for the SEP.

A new, abridged training program has been developed specifically for SEP events and is required as of September 15, 2015. The new Special Event Server (SES) training is required for SEP holders , managers and servers of events with under 500 attendees and all SEP servers (paid or unpaid), regardless of the size or type of SEP. Those who already hold a valid Serving It Right certificate are not required to take the SES program.

The former Special Occasion Licence (SOL) is now called a Special Event Permit (SEP) to reflect the new language used in the Liquor Control and Licensing Act. The terminology has been updated because permits are temporary in nature and licences are permanent.

Exemptions

Servers or bartenders working in British Columbia who have current certification from one of the following responsible beverage service programs are exempted from the SIR training requirement in British Columbia, however, employers in British Columbia can require an out of province certificate holder to get a Serving it Right certificate as a best practice.

Servers and bartenders with a valid SIR equivalent certificate from other Canadian jurisdictions are exempt from SIR training. However, Licensees, managers and anyone supervising the sale or service of liquor must have a valid SIR certificate.

Foreign representatives of foreign liquor manufacturers temporarily in BC are also exempt if supervised by a person who is SIR certified.

Recognized responsible beverage service programs: ProServe Program (Alberta), Serve it Right (Saskatchewan), Serving It Safe/Smart Choices (Manitoba), Smart Serve (Ontario), Service in Action (Quebec), It’s Good Business: Responsible Service of Alcohol (New Brunswick), It’s Good Business (Nova Scotia), It’s Our Business (Prince Edward Island), It’s Good Business: Responsible Service of Alcohol (Newfoundland and Labrador), Be a Responsible Server (B.A.R.S) (Yukon).