ProServe Study Guide (Alberta) 2026

ProServe and who needs it

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) regulates liquor under the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act. AGLC's ProServe Liquor Staff Training is required for most people who sell or serve liquor in Alberta.

Who must be certified

In Class A, B, D, E and F licensed premises and duty-free stores, ProServe is required for:

• Owners who directly manage the premises, managers and supervisors
• Bartenders, servers, greeters and hosts
• Retail staff and delivery drivers
• Security staff, whether employed or contracted, and the owners and managers of contracted security companies

At commercial public resale special events, managers, supervisors, bartenders, servers, drink ticket sellers and security staff need it. At community public resale special events, the licensee and designates plus at least 25% of bartenders and servers need it.

Who does not need it

Kitchen staff, bus persons and cleaning staff are not required to take ProServe. Staff under Class C (private club) and private special event licences are also not required, although AGLC can require training after a violation.

Deadlines and records

• New staff must be certified within 30 days of their start date.
• At least one ProServe-certified staff member must be on shift at all times.
• The licensee keeps a log of certified staff that AGLC can review.
• Staff must show proof of certification to an AGLC inspector on request, on paper or as a clear image on a phone.

The ProServe course and exam

AGLC lists the course at $25.00 plus GST. If you do not finish within 30 days, access ends and you must buy the course again.

Conditional status

Your certification can be placed into conditional status if you give, sell or supply liquor to a minor, or if you fail to ask for proof of age from a person who appears to be under 25. You must then retake the course and pay the fee within 30 days.

Minors, ID and licence classes

In Alberta a minor is anyone under 18. Selling or providing liquor to a minor is an offence under the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act.

Checking ID

Staff must ask for valid ID whenever a person who appears under 25 tries to buy liquor or enter a minors-prohibited premises. If you are not satisfied the person is at least 18, refuse entry or ask them to leave.

• Primary ID must be government-issued, original (not a copy) and not expired, and show a photo, name, signature, date of birth and a unique ID number.
• Secondary ID is only needed when the primary ID does not look genuine. It must be government-issued and show a name, date of birth and ID number.
• Look at ID under good light or a black light, and you may ask for a sample signature to compare.

Staff must call police when a minor tries to buy liquor, is found drinking, or is found in a minors-prohibited premises. Licensees must supervise well enough to stop adults from passing drinks to minors.

Class A licences

A minor who works as table staff where minors are allowed may not sell or serve liquor. Minors may not work in minors-prohibited premises or in liquor stores.

Responsible service skills

The province sets the rules, but the skills below are what keep guests safe every shift. They are also a large part of every server training test.

Standard drinks in Canada

A Canadian standard drink holds 13.45 g (17.05 ml) of pure alcohol. Drinks that are bigger or stronger than the examples below count as more than one.

Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health says 2 standard drinks or less a week is low risk, 3 to 6 is moderate risk, and 7 or more is increasingly high risk. No amount is known to be safe during pregnancy.

What raises blood alcohol

• Drinking quickly, or drinking on an empty stomach.
• Smaller body size and less body water. Women often reach a higher BAC than men after the same drinks.
• Fizzy mixers, which can speed up absorption.
• Medications and other drugs, including cannabis, which can add to the effects.

The liver removes roughly one standard drink an hour. Only time lowers BAC; coffee, cold showers and food after the fact do not. BAC can keep rising after the last drink.

Signs of intoxication

• Lower inhibitions: louder, overly friendly, more talkative.
• Poor judgement: rude jokes, buying rounds for strangers, drinking faster.
• Slow reactions: slurred speech, glassy eyes, losing track of a conversation.
• Poor coordination: stumbling, swaying, spilling or dropping things.

Watch for changes from how a guest acted when they arrived, and keep count of drinks. A guest who seems far more impaired than their drinks explain may have had their drink spiked; keep them safe and get help.

Refusing service

1. Tell your manager and co-workers before you act.
2. Speak to the guest privately, calmly and firmly. Focus on the law, not on the person.
3. Offer food, water, a non-alcoholic drink or a safe ride home.
4. Do not serve drinks bought for the guest by friends.
5. If the guest tries to drive, offer a taxi or sober driver, and call police if they leave impaired.
6. Write what happened in the incident log.

Liability

Licensed businesses owe a duty of care to guests and to the public. Courts in Canada have held bars and restaurants partly responsible when an over-served guest later hurt someone. Staff and licensees can also face charges and licence penalties. Never give "one last drink" to calm an intoxicated guest.

Cannabis and impaired driving

Cannabis and alcohol together can impair a person more than either one alone. Edible cannabis can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to take effect, so guests may not realise how impaired they will become. Under the Criminal Code it is a crime to drive with a BAC of 80 mg or more in 100 ml of blood.