Smart Serve Ontario flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Legal drinking age in Ontario
- The legal drinking age in Ontario is 19. Anyone who appears to be under 25 must be asked for identification before being served alcohol.
- Smart Serve certificate validity
- A Smart Serve certificate is valid for five years from the date of certification. Staff must renew it before it expires to continue selling or serving liquor.
- Standard drink in Ontario
- A standard drink contains 13.6 grams of pure alcohol: 341 mL of 5% beer, 142 mL of 12% wine, or 43 mL of 40% spirits.
- Alcohol metabolism rate
- The body metabolizes alcohol at roughly one standard drink per hour. Coffee, food, and cold showers do not speed up this rate.
- Acceptable identification
- Acceptable ID must be government-issued, contain a photo, date of birth, and name, and be current. Examples: Ontario driver's licence, Ontario photo card, Canadian passport.
- Unacceptable identification
- Unacceptable ID includes health cards without a photo, student cards, expired documents, photocopies, and any ID that appears altered or tampered with.
- Four categories of impairment
- Impairment indicators fall into four categories: physical, behavioural, emotional, and mental. Servers should watch for signs in all four categories.
- Refusing service politely
- Refuse service calmly and firmly without embarrassing the guest. Offer a non-alcoholic alternative, food, or water, and inform a supervisor.
- Documenting a refusal
- Record the time, guest description, observed behaviour, and action taken. Keep the record for the licensee's files and for AGCO review.
- Arranging safe transport
- If a guest is intoxicated, arrange a taxi, rideshare, or sober friend. Do not let an intoxicated guest drive or leave alone.
- Monitoring consumption
- Track the number and type of drinks served to each guest. Pace service and offer food and water to slow alcohol absorption.
- Cutting off service
- Stop serving alcohol when a guest shows clear signs of intoxication: slurred speech, loss of coordination, aggression, or confusion.
- Required signage
- Licensees must post the legal drinking age sign, the Smart Serve sign, and other AGCO-required signage in a conspicuous place on the premises.
- Incident report contents
- An incident report should include date, time, location, names of staff and guests, description of the incident, and action taken.
- Staff age requirement
- Only a person 18 years of age or older may sell, serve, or handle liquor in a licensed establishment, even if that person does not consume it.
- Strict liability offence
- Selling or supplying liquor to an intoxicated person is a strict liability offence. The Crown need not prove intent, only that the sale occurred.
- Second-party sales
- An adult buying alcohol for a minor is prohibited. If you suspect this, refuse the sale and document the incident.
- De-escalation techniques
- Stay calm, keep your voice low, acknowledge the guest's frustration, and offer a solution. Avoid arguing about who is right.
- Safe distance from aggression
- Maintain at least an arm's length from an aggressive guest and keep an exit route open. Never let a guest block you in.
- Calling police
- If a guest threatens violence or refuses to leave, call the police. Do not attempt to physically restrain the guest yourself.
- Special Occasion Permit
- A Special Occasion Permit (SOP) is required when alcohol is served outside a licensed establishment at a private event. The SOP holder must follow AGCO rules.
- Alcohol delivery age check
- Alcohol delivery must be made by a person 18 or older. The recipient must be 19 or older and must provide valid ID at delivery.
- Minors on licensed premises
- Minors may be present on some licensed premises, such as restaurants, but must not be served alcohol. Staff must prevent second-party sales.
- AGCO role
- The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) administers and enforces the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 and its regulations.
- Permitting drunkenness
- Permitting drunkenness, disorderly conduct, or unlawful gambling on the premises is a violation that can lead to licence suspension, revocation, or monetary penalties.
- Physical impairment signs
- Physical signs of intoxication include flushed face, bloodshot or glassy eyes, slurred speech, swaying, stumbling, spilling drinks, and difficulty focusing.
- Behavioural impairment signs
- Behavioural red flags include ordering multiple drinks at once, switching to stronger drinks, drinking faster than others, and becoming unusually loud or quiet.
- Combined impairment
- A guest who has consumed cannabis, medication, or other drugs with alcohol may show combined impairment. Refuse service and arrange safe transport.
- Checking ID in good light
- Check the ID in good light, compare the photo to the person, verify the date of birth, and check for tampering such as peeling laminate.
- Intervening early
- A guest showing early signs of intoxication can often be slowed down with food and water before reaching a dangerous level.
- Monitoring after cut-off
- After cutting off service, continue to monitor the guest until they leave. Do not leave an intoxicated guest unattended.
- Licensee record keeping
- The licensee must keep records of staff training, incident reports, and refusals of service, and make them available to AGCO inspectors on request.