The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) Board of Directors has approved four new liquor retail training programs to support Ontario’sexpanded liquor retail marketplace. The approved programs are designed to provide liquor retail licensees and their employees with the knowledge needed to sell, serve and deliver liquor safely, responsibly, and in compliance with the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019, its regulations and the standards and requirements established by the AGCO Registrar.
Retail licensees must ensure that employees involved in the sale, service and delivery of liquor or in taking orders for liquor at a licensed retail store (such as a licensed grocery store, convenience store or offsite winery retail store) hold a valid certificate demonstrating the successful completion of one AGCO Board-approved training course.
All Board-approved liquor retail training programs will be available online on the providers' website. Learners must pass the final exam to receive a certificate demonstrating successful completion of the training program before selling, serving, delivering or taking orders for liquor at a licensed retail store.
List of Board-Approved Liquor Retail Training Programs
Newly Approved Programs
| Program | Cost | Training Requirement | Recertification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Serve Retail | $24.95 (no HST) | Only approved for retail licensees and employees involved in the sale, service, and delivery of liquor, or taking orders for the sale of liquor, at a licensed convenience store, grocery store or offsite winery retail store.1 | All certifications are valid for 5 years. |
| StoreServe Certification | $19.99 + HST | ||
| CannServe Standard – Liquor Retail Worker Training Program | $24.95 + HST | ||
| Selling Alcoholic Beverages Responsibly (SABR) | $19 + HST |
Existing Program
| Program | Cost | Training Requirement | Recertification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Serve Training Program | $44.95 (no HST) | Approved for all liquor licensees and employees (such as bar and restaurant servers), including retail licensees and employees listed above. | Valid for 5 years |
The AGCO continues to review liquor retail training programs submitted during the open call and may announce additional Board-approved programs in the future.
Smart Serve Remains a Board Approved Training Program for All Liquor Licensees and Employees
The Smart Serve program will remain a Board-approved training program for all liquor licensees and employees, including retail licensees and their employees. This means that individuals with a valid Smart Serve certification already meet the training requirement to sell, serve or deliver liquor or take orders for the sale of liquor at a retail store. However, individuals with only a liquor retail training certification are not certified to sell, serve, deliver or take orders for the sale of liquor outside of a retail store setting.
1 Retail licensees are defined in Ontario Regulation 746/21 under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019. Brewer's Retail Inc. (BRI) is exempt from the training requirements as outlined in the standards and requirements established by the AGCO Registrar, provided BRI ensures that every person involved in the sale of liquor at BRI/The Beer Store outlets completes training that addresses the responsible sale and service of liquor and the training is reviewed by the Registrar.