THUNDER BAY - The deadline is fast approaching for many service industry workers to become re-certified to serve alcohol.
In November 2021, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario announced it was going to be putting expiry dates on Smart Serve certificates after five years. At that point, re-certification would be required to continue to serve alcohol at licensed establishments. This became effective July 1, 2022.
For those in the service industry who were certified before July 1, 2018, their certificates will expire at the end of June 2023. Anyone certified after July 2018, would find that their Smart Serve will be expiring this year, this is the first time that expiration dates will be effective.
In an email from the AGCO, they stated that the re-certification requirement brought Ontario in line with best practices "And helps to ensure that those involved in the sale and service of liquor remain well-informed and up to date on current liquor laws and maintain the necessary skills to sell and serve responsibly. Most mandatory liquor sale and server training programs in Canada require re-certification every five years." They continued stating that they will be taking an informed approach to expiring certifications, "Any licence holder that remains non-compliant with the Registrar’s Standards, may be subject to AGCO regulatory action, including a formal warning, a monetary penalty or a licence suspension or revocation."
The updated training program now includes education about cannabis consumption, alcohol grocery sales, tailgate permits, alcohol delivery and sexual violence and harassment in licensed establishments.