MT Alcohol Server cheat sheet

Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service (RASS)

• Legal sales age in Montana is 21; any sale or furnishing to a person under 21 is prohibited, including sales made by a minor employee.

• Acceptable ID under Montana law: a valid driver's license, Montana ID card, military ID, or passport; expired IDs and out-of-country IDs other than a passport are not acceptable proof.

• Card anyone who appears under 30 as a house policy; the legal standard is actual knowledge, so appearance-based doubt justifies refusal.

• Signs of intoxication: slurred speech, bloodshot or watery eyes, loss of coordination, swaying, odor of alcohol, loud or aggressive behavior, and slowed reactions.

• A person is visibly intoxicated when observable signs are present; serving a visibly intoxicated person is a criminal offense regardless of how much they were served elsewhere.

• Refusal script: state the decision plainly, do not argue or negotiate, offer water or food, and offer to call a ride; escalate to a manager if resistance continues.

• Montana dram shop liability: a licensee who serves a visibly intoxicated person or a minor can be held civilly liable for injuries caused by that patron.

• Second-party sales (a legal-age adult buying for a minor) are prohibited; watch for patrons who hand drinks to others or linger near the door with extra drinks.

• Montana licensees must complete approved server training; alcohol server certification is valid for three years before renewal is required.