The TIPS Best Practices On-Premise program is built for servers and bartenders in restaurants, bars, hotels, in-store tastings, and anywhere else alcohol is consumed on site. It is the premier TIPS offering, focused on raising the standard of service rather than checking a compliance box, and it treats responsible service as a professional skill rather than a set of prohibitions.
Important note
This course is for educational purposes and does not provide state-mandated seller or server certification. If you need certification to satisfy a state requirement, enroll in the jurisdiction-specific course for your state. We carry approved programs for California RBS, Illinois BASSET, Oregon OLCC, Pennsylvania RAMP, New York ATAP, Texas TABC, and others.
What you'll learn
Legal information: the responsibilities of anyone serving alcohol, the types of illegal sales, ID checking procedures, and how to document an incident
Alcohol information: how alcohol affects the body, the signs of intoxication, and how to use that knowledge to pace and moderate service
Intervention: a customer-friendly three-step model for handling difficult situations without losing the guest or the room
Practical application: video-based exercises that put the material into real situations before you face them on a shift
How the course works
Online, self-paced, and mobile friendly, so staff can train between shifts on any device
Typically completed in two to three hours, with the ability to log out and resume
A printable certificate is available immediately on passing the final exam
Managers can assign the course across a team, track progress, and pull completion records
Common questions
Does this course certify me to serve alcohol in my state?
No. This is the Best Practices education program. Where a state mandates certification, you need that state's approved course, and we offer those separately.
Then why take it?
Many employers and insurers require or reward TIPS training regardless of state mandates, and the intervention skills it teaches are what actually prevent incidents on a busy shift.
Is there an on-premise version for retail?
If your customers buy sealed product to take away, the TIPS Off-Premise course is the right fit.
If your state requires a specific program
This is a best-practices course rather than a state certification. Where a state approves its own program, take that instead: California RBS, TIPS Wisconsin, Pennsylvania RAMP, or New York ATAP On-Premise. Selling sealed bottles? Take TIPS Off-Premise. Browse the full compliance catalog.