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ProServe Alberta overview

ProServe study guide: Alberta liquor rules on all 11 topics

Free ProServe study guide: our plain-language notes on Alberta's Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act and AGLC policy, organised by topic, each linked to its practice questions.

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  • 11 topics
  • 238 key points
  • Free, no sign-up

This study guide collects our notes on every topic of the ProServe exam on one page: short points in our own words, grouped by topic and by source. Read it from top to bottom before your first practice test, or jump to a topic from the list below.

Each topic ends with a link to its practice questions, so you can check what you just read straight away, and a link to the official source for the full wording. The notes summarise Alberta's Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, its regulation and AGLC's Liquor Licensee Handbook; they are not the ProServe course, and where our notes and the official source differ, the official source wins.

Study these notes as flashcards →

ProServe certification rules

Who must be ProServe-certified in Alberta, who is exempt, the 30-day deadline, five-year renewal, proof for inspectors, conditional status after a violation and the link with ProTect security training.

Practise ProServe certification rules questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

1.6 ProServe Liquor Staff Training

  • ProServe is mandatory for full-time and part-time staff in licensed premises under Class A, B, D, E, F and duty free licences: owners who directly manage the premises, managers, supervisors, retailers, bartenders, servers, greeters, hosts and delivery drivers.
  • Security staff, whether employed directly or contracted by the licensee, and the owners and managers of a contracted security company also need ProServe.
  • At a Commercial Public Resale special event: managers, supervisors, bartenders, servers, drink ticket sellers and security staff need ProServe.
  • At a Community Public Resale special event: the licensee, the designates and at least 25% of the bartenders and servers on site need ProServe.
  • Staff of a registered liquor agency (or its third-party agent) whose duties include sampling liquor products need ProServe.
  • Not required: kitchen staff, bus persons and cleaning staff; staff at a Private Special Event; staff of a Class C licensee (unless the Board orders it after a violation); volunteers at a Class B premises.
  • New hires must be certified within 30 days of their employment start date; special event staff must be certified before the public resale event.
  • The licensee must make sure at least one ProServe-certified staff member is on shift at all times.
  • Proof for an inspector: a printed certificate with a QR code, or a clear digital image of it saved on the staff member's phone.
  • Suggested staff log: name as on the certificate, SMART Training registration number and expiry date.
  • A certificate is kept valid by repeating the whole program, including the exam, before it expires.

1.6 conditional status

  • A worker's certificate goes into conditional status if, at a licensed premises, they supply liquor to a minor (GLCA s. 75), serve or allow an apparently intoxicated person to drink or gamble (GLCA s. 75.1), or fail to ask for proof of age from someone who appears under 25 (Board policy).
  • A worker in conditional status may keep working but must retake ProServe and pay the fees within 30 days of AGLC's notice, or the certificate is cancelled.
  • An appeal goes in writing to AGLC's Vice President, Regulatory Services, within 14 days of the notice; the decision is final.
  • After an unsuccessful appeal the worker has 30 days from the outcome to recertify.
  • Three violations within five years make a worker ineligible for further ProServe certification.

AGLC ProServe program pages (retrieved October 2026)

  • ProServe is AGLC's responsible liquor sales and service program; it aims to curb underage drinking, over-consumption, impaired driving and violence.
  • It started in 2004 as the Alberta Server Intervention Program (ASIP) and was renamed ProServe in 2008.
  • It is social responsibility training; it does not cover every liquor law or AGLC policy and does not replace on-the-job training.
  • Certification expires five years from the completion date on the certificate; workers must renew before it expires.
  • Minors (under 18) cannot get ProServe certification.
  • AGLC emails a reminder to the account address when the certificate is due to expire within 60 days.

ProServe out-of-province recognition

  • A responsible liquor service certificate issued by another Canadian jurisdiction within the last five years can be recognized by applying to AGLC; certificates from outside Canada are not recognized.
  • Other provinces' certificates are not accepted by AGLC inspectors unless recognized; recognized ProServe status lasts five years from the original issue date.

1.7 ProTect Security Staff Training

  • ProTect is mandatory for security staff, people who manage or supervise security staff and owners/managers of contracted security companies at Class A Minors Prohibited premises and Commercial Public Resale special events.
  • Everyone who needs ProTect must also hold ProServe.
  • ProTect certificates from other provinces are not recognized.
  • At least one ProTect-certified staff member must be on shift at all times where ProTect applies.
  • Security staff duties include controlling entrances, checking ID, keeping out banned patrons, keeping within the fire code occupant load and intervening early to prevent fights.

Checking ID

AGLC's under-25 ID policy, what valid primary and secondary ID must show, examining ID for tampering, questions that test a fake, refusing politely and ID checks on deliveries.

Practise Checking ID questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

5.5 Minors (identification)

  • If staff are not satisfied the person is at least 18, they must refuse entry or ask the person to leave.
  • Valid primary ID must have a photo and a name, be issued by a government, include the date of birth, be unexpired, carry a unique identifier number and be an original, not a copy.
  • If the ID does not look genuine, staff must ask for a second piece. Valid secondary ID must have a name, be government issued, have a unique identifier number and include the date of birth (a photo is not required).
  • Examine ID under good light, or use a black light, to check the photo is a true likeness, the laminate has not been tampered with and the name, date of birth and other data have not been altered (altered lettering shows under a black light).

How to Identify Minors: Tips for Licensees and Staff (May 2025)

  • Anyone who appears under 25 should show ID every time they enter.
  • All entry points must be monitored at all times; supervisors must make sure there are adequate steps to identify minors, and every employee is responsible.
  • If you are not sure whether someone is under 25, ask: it is the only way to be sure you meet the policy.
  • Failing to ask for ID from someone who appears under 25 can lead to suspension or cancellation of the worker's SMART certification, warnings, fines or suspension of the liquor licence.
  • Questions that test a doubtful ID: date of birth, spelling of the middle name, postal code, eye colour. Asking for a signature and comparing the slope of the writing also helps.
  • Hold the ID and ask the customer to take it out of the wallet if needed; look and feel for bubbles or peeling laminate, mismatched or covered lettering and a photo that does not match.
  • Saying no: decline politely and professionally, explain that AGLC prohibits sale or service to minors, point to the signage, ask the person to leave and call a supervisor if needed.
  • An abusive customer: stay calm and courteous, refer them to a supervisor or manager, notify management and authorities if needed, and note descriptive details.
  • AGLC recommends licensees give staff training and written house policies for these situations.

Liquor licensee social responsibility material

  • The ID-Under-25 poster explains the under-25 policy to customers; new licensees get it in their welcome package and existing licensees can get one from their inspector.

3.7 Delivery

  • The delivery person must be at least 18 and be the licensee, the licensee's staff (including contracted staff) or a delivery service licensee; a common carrier may also deliver.
  • Liquor may only be delivered where possessing and drinking it is legal, such as a residence, temporary residence or office.
  • Liquor must not be delivered to a minor or an intoxicated person; photo ID must be checked when the person receiving the order appears under 25.

Alcohol and the body

Standard drink sizes, why the same glass of beer can hold more than one drink, how food, bubbles, age and sex change the effect of alcohol, and why only time sobers a person up.

Practise Alcohol and the body questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

Lower-risk drinking (standard drinks)

  • A standard drink contains about 17 mL of pure alcohol.
  • One standard drink = 341 mL (12 oz) of 5% beer, 142 mL (5 oz) of 12% wine, or 43 mL (1.5 oz) of 40% spirits.
  • Beer can range from about 1.1% to 11% alcohol or more, so the same 341 mL bottle may hold less or more than one standard drink: about 9 mL of pure alcohol at 2.5%, 14 mL at 4%, 19 mL at 5.5%, 29 mL at 8.5% and 38 mL at 11%.
  • A cocktail does not contain less alcohol than a glass of wine just because it has mix: a standard drink holds the same alcohol whatever the type.
  • Large glasses make over-pouring easy: DrinkSense lists a Burgundy glass holding 654 mL (23 oz), a rocks glass 256 mL (9 oz) and a footed pilsner glass 511 mL (18 oz).

Myths and facts

  • Only time sobers a person up; fresh air, food, exercise, a cold shower or coffee do not.
  • Women generally have less body fluid, so the same amount of alcohol gives a higher blood alcohol concentration; they feel the effects faster and longer.
  • Food slows how fast alcohol is absorbed but does not prevent intoxication.
  • Bubbly drinks such as coolers, sparkling wine and cocktails with soda enter the bloodstream faster than flat drinks.
  • Switching between types of liquor does not in itself cause intoxication; the total alcohol does.
  • Older people process alcohol more slowly and may become more sensitive to it; in teens and young adults alcohol may affect physical and mental development.

Drinking within the guidelines

  • Tips: eat before and while drinking, stick to standard pours without top-ups, alternate with water (alcohol dehydrates), sip slowly, and have non-drinking days.
  • Caffeine in energy drinks can mask the effects of alcohol, so a person may feel less drunk than they are; hand-mixed energy drinks usually contain more caffeine than pre-mixed ones.
  • Mixing alcohol and cannabis can make impairment greater and less predictable, raise the risk of injury and poor judgment, and increase nausea, vomiting and dehydration.

5.3 standard liquor servings (for the after-1 a.m. limit)

  • Standard serving: spirits and liqueurs 28.5 mL (1 oz); wine 142 mL (5 oz); bottled or canned beer 341 mL bottle or 355 mL can; draught beer 341 mL (12 oz); cider or coolers 341 mL bottle or 355 mL can.
  • Note: this AGLC serving size for spirits (1 oz) is a policy measure for service limits and pricing; DrinkSense's health "standard drink" of spirits is 1.5 oz at 40%.

Common liquor questions; FASD poster

  • No amount of alcohol is proven safe during pregnancy; AGLC's Dry9 campaign encourages an alcohol-free pregnancy.
  • Class A licensees must post AGLC's Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) poster in a prominent place (Handbook 3.1).

Recognizing and preventing intoxication

The duty not to serve anyone who appears intoxicated by liquor or a drug, the signs AGLC lists, the two-drink limit after 1 a.m., staff drinking on duty and handling suspected drug activity.

Practise Recognizing and preventing intoxication questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

s. 75.1 Duty to intoxicated person

  • A licensee may not sell or provide liquor to a person who is apparently intoxicated by liquor or a drug.
  • A licensee may not let an apparently intoxicated person drink liquor in the premises, even liquor bought by someone else.
  • A licensee may not let an apparently intoxicated person take part in gaming or a provincial lottery (for example VLTs) in the premises.

5.8 Intoxicated persons

  • Licensees and staff must not provide liquor to anyone who appears intoxicated by liquor or a drug.
  • Signs AGLC lists: staggering or unsteady walk, poor coordination, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes or breath smelling of alcohol, messy appearance, and overly bold or disruptive behaviour.
  • If staff know an apparently intoxicated person drove to the premises, they should suggest a taxi and offer to call one.
  • If an apparently intoxicated person drives away, staff should note the licence plate, model, colour and direction of travel and call police immediately.

5.3 two-drink limit and staff drinking

  • In Class A, B and C premises and at Commercial Public special events, no more than two standard servings may be sold or served to a patron after 1 a.m.
  • No patron may have more than two standard servings in their possession after 1 a.m., even if some drinks are said to be for a friend.
  • Automated self-serve beer and wine systems must allow staff to shut off a table at any time, must have a cut-off by amount or dollar value, and may not be used after 1 a.m.
  • Staff may not drink or be under the influence of liquor or drugs while on duty; they may have a drink after their shift, and an approved manager or owner may drink while entertaining a client.
  • Liquor for off-duty staff must be bought during normal service hours.
  • A variety of non-alcoholic drinks must always be available.

5.2 and 5.10 promoting intoxication

  • Liquor sale activities must not promote intoxication.
  • Entertainment must not promote liquor consumption or interfere with the safe operation of the premises.

5.9 Illegal drugs

  • Allowing illegal activity such as drug dealing on the premises is an offence and can lead to suspension or cancellation of the liquor licence.
  • Staff must report suspected drug activity to management, and licensees must report it to police.
  • A person identified by police as convicted of drug trafficking within the previous two years must be barred.
  • Good practice: security checks on new staff, good lighting including washrooms and parking lots, monitoring washrooms, logging drug incidents, banning users and dealers with posted signs, supporting police walk-throughs.

Refusing service and removing patrons

Asking a person to leave or barring them, the closing-time rule, police removal of gang associates, collecting a patron's name, age and photo, handling unruly patrons and the limits on physical force.

Practise Refusing service and removing patrons questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

s. 70 Leaving licensed premises when requested

  • No person may stay in licensed premises after the licensee or an employee asks them to leave.
  • No person may enter licensed premises after the licensee or an employee has forbidden them to enter.

s. 71 Leaving licensed premises on closing

  • When liquor sale and consumption must stop, everyone except the licensee and staff must leave (unless the regulations say otherwise).
  • No one may drink, and staff may not let anyone drink, when sale and consumption are prohibited.
  • GLCR s. 93: the licensee, the licensee's spouse or adult interdependent partner, employees and workers doing repairs may be in the premises when sale and consumption are prohibited.

s. 69 Conduct on licensed premises

  • Staff may not permit any activity that breaks a bylaw or law, disrupts the orderly operation of the premises, may injure the health or safety of people there, or is prohibited by the licence.
  • Patrons may not do anything that disrupts the orderly operation or may injure people's health or safety.

s. 69.1 Gangs

  • A police officer may exclude or remove from licensed premises anyone the officer believes is associated with a gang; a good-faith belief is enough.
  • A person told to leave by the officer must comply, or becomes a trespasser.

s. 69.2; Liquor Licensee Handbook 5.7 Collection of personal information

  • Before letting a person in, a licensee may (but does not have to) collect the person's name, age and photograph; no other information may be collected.
  • The information may only be used for crime prevention and public safety, and privacy law (Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner guidance) must be followed.
  • If the licensee reasonably believes the person caused trouble of the kind banned by s. 69 within the past year, the licensee may share the name, age and photo with other licensees in good faith.
  • The licensee must give this information to a police officer who asks for it, as soon as possible.

5.6 Supervision of patrons

  • Premises must be adequately staffed and supervised at all operating hours, by trained staff under competent, approved management.
  • The licensee must keep a high level of supervision and control to protect the health and safety of everyone on the premises.
  • Suggestions: a written policy on unruly patrons posted in the staff room; visible staff apparel; constant monitoring; a log of problems passed to the next shift.
  • Dealing with unruly patrons: post entrance signs (for example no knives, no gang colours, unruly patrons barred); support police walk-throughs; hire tactful door staff; talk calmly but firmly and ask the patron's friends to help; separate fighting patrons by removing them at different times or through different exits; call police if charges are warranted; record every disturbance in a log.
  • Be cautious with physical force: under the Criminal Code anyone can be charged for using excessive force; licensees may get legal advice or ask police about the appropriate level of force.

1.7 and 5.9 security and barring

  • Security staff monitor every public entrance, check ID, keep banned patrons out, stay within the fire code occupant load, circulate visibly and intervene early to prevent fights.
  • Police-identified persons convicted of drug trafficking in the past two years must be barred from licensed premises.
  • AGLC's How to Identify Minors guide: with an abusive customer, stay calm, refer them to a manager, notify authorities if necessary and note descriptive details.

Hours of sale and service

Maximum service hours, the one-hour consumption period, clearing drinks by 3 a.m., daylight saving time, last call, delivery and off-sales hours, theatres and race tracks.

Practise Hours of sale and service questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

s. 92 Hours of liquor sale and consumption

  • The AGLC Board sets the hours when liquor may be sold, provided or consumed in licensed premises.
  • In Class A, B, C and special event premises, liquor may be consumed during the set hours or during the hour after them.

5.1 Hours of liquor sales and consumption

  • Maximum service hours for Class A, B, C and F premises: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
  • AGLC Liquor Bulletin of June 9, 2026: Class A, B, C and F licensees now have the option to begin liquor service at 6:00 a.m. Service still ends by 2:00 a.m.
  • Where drinking on the premises is allowed, consumption may continue for up to one hour after service ends; all liquor must be cleared from patron areas by 3:00 a.m.
  • All patrons must leave a Class A Minors Prohibited premises at the end of the one-hour consumption period; only the licensee's spouse, staff and repair workers may stay.
  • A Class A Minors Allowed premises with an evening no-minors condition follows the same rule and may not reopen for food before 6 a.m. the next business day.
  • Race tracks: from two hours before post time until the last race, within the general hours. Theatres: from two hours before the opening curtain, not before 9 a.m., until 2 a.m. (June 2025 text).
  • Class D hours: retail liquor stores, general merchandise liquor stores, manufacturer's off sales and delivery services 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.; hotel general off sales until 2:50 a.m.; duty free stores as set by the Board.
  • Deliveries: an order must leave during business hours, but delivery may continue for 30 minutes after closing.
  • On the day daylight saving time starts or ends, liquor service must end before the clocks change and cannot restart until the next business day.
  • "Last call" must be timed so that everyone who orders is served within the licensed service hours.
  • A golf or curling club hosting a private tournament or bonspiel may apply for an endorsement to start service as early as 8 a.m. (June 2025 text).
  • A Class C airport travellers' lounge may serve liquor 24 hours a day; a canteen's hours are set by the officer in charge.
  • Liquor from a private office may be provided to guests from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. (Handbook 5.3; GLCR s. 97 sets 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. where the office is in licensed premises).

5.3 after 1 a.m.

  • After 1 a.m. a patron may be sold or served at most two standard servings and may not hold more than two.
  • Automated self-serve beer and wine dispensers may not be used after 1 a.m.

Drink prices and promotions

Menus that show the amount of liquor, minimum drink prices, banned free-drink and two-for-one specials, gift certificates, contests and prizes, food specials and pay tied to liquor sales.

Practise Drink prices and promotions questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

s. 66; Liquor Licensee Handbook 5.2.1

  • For drinking on the premises, the menu or price list must show the amount of liquor in each drink (ounces or millilitres) and the price.

minimum prices (amending Handbook 5.2.3)

  • Minimum on-premises prices (before GST): spirits and liqueurs $4.00 per 28.5 mL (1 oz); wine $0.50 per 28.5 mL (1 oz); draught beer $0.25 per 28.5 mL (1 oz).
  • Licensees may set their own prices above these minimums.
  • The previous minimums in the June 2025 Handbook were $2.75 per oz of spirits, $0.35 per oz of wine and $0.16 per oz of draught.

5.2 Liquor pricing

  • Except for hotel all-inclusive or promotional packages and hotels with an annual special event licence, a licensee may not offer free liquor specials, more than one drink for a single price (such as 2-for-1 or a triple for the price of a single), or all-you-can-drink specials for a fixed cost.
  • A bottle of spirits sold for on-premises consumption must also meet the minimum price per ounce.
  • Liquor sale activities must not promote intoxication.
  • A gift certificate may be redeemed for liquor only if it was bought at face value (a $10 certificate must have cost at least $10).

8.4 Licensee promotions

  • Free liquor may not be awarded as a prize in Class A, B or C premises.
  • A sealed bottle of liquor may be awarded as a prize at a Class D premises, for drinking off the premises.
  • Buying or drinking liquor, or playing electronic games, cannot be required to enter a contest, draw or giveaway, and participants must be told so.
  • The time, date and place of a draw must be clearly displayed on the premises.

5.4 Food service

  • Class A Minors Allowed premises must offer food suitable for a full meal during all hours of operation.
  • Class A Minors Prohibited, Class B and Class C premises must offer at least light snacks such as chips or nuts.
  • Food specials must not depend on buying liquor.
  • Food and non-alcoholic drinks should be on a menu with each item individually priced.

ss. 64 and 65

  • No licensee or employee may force or demand that a person buy liquor.
  • An agreement that pays someone for working in licensed premises based on the amount of liquor sold is prohibited and void.

Serving and handling liquor

Where liquor may come from, adulteration, opening and mixing containers, bottle service, batch drinks and infusions, off-premises drinks, resealed wine, patios, golf courses and food requirements.

Practise Serving and handling liquor questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

s. 68; Liquor Licensee Handbook 5.3.3 Unauthorized liquor

  • Liquor sold in licensed premises must come from AGLC (or as Board policy allows) and only during permitted hours.
  • Not allowed in licensed premises: homemade liquor, duty free liquor, liquor from any source other than an AGLC-approved warehouse, a licensed Alberta manufacturer or a Class D licensee, adulterated liquor, liquor relabelled by the licensee, and liquor received as an added-value item and then sold.
  • GLCA s. 72: homemade liquor is allowed only when judged in a competition under a special event licence, or served at a special event where no liquor is sold.
  • Staff with information on smuggled or stolen liquor, or homemade liquor offered for sale, must contact AGLC (Handbook 1.5).

s. 73; Liquor Licensee Handbook 5.3.19 Adulteration

  • No one may add a drug, methyl alcohol, impure alcohol or any harmful substance to liquor in a licensee's possession.
  • No one may blend brands or types by combining the contents of containers, except with an AGLC-approved automatic dispenser.
  • Water or another liquid may not be added to reduce the alcohol content without the customer's knowledge and consent.
  • Adulteration also includes moving products into new containers to hide their origin. Adulteration and illegal sales carry fines up to $50,000 and/or 12 months for an individual (GLCA s. 119).

s. 68; Liquor Licensee Handbook 5.3 Liquor service and dispensing

  • All liquor must be served by staff, except where self-service is allowed in Class B or C premises or AGLC has approved automated self-serve beer and wine dispensers.
  • Containers stay sealed until needed for a sale or to restock, and staff must open them before serving (golf course carts and kiosks excepted).
  • Staff may not pour liquor directly into a patron's mouth.
  • Liquor from different containers may be mixed only at the patron's request, when topping up with the identical product, or for approved pre-mixes, aging or infusions.
  • Dispensing systems need AGLC approval, must pour consistently and hold only one brand or type per line.
  • Machines that mix liquor with pressurized oxygen (alcohol without liquid vaporizers) are prohibited.
  • Bottle service: staff must pour from the original bottle with an accurate measuring device (no free pouring); the option must be on the menu; the bottle stays in staff control; patron self-service is prohibited.
  • Licensees must offer a reasonable variety of liquor and make sure patrons get the correct amount, type and brand.

5.3 batch drinks, infusions, off-premises drinks

  • Batch pre-mixes (slush machines, sangria) are allowed if the ingredients and liquor amount per drink are on the menu, the liquor comes from original AGLC-purchased containers, the machine is empty before a new batch, and the batch is labelled with the date, the amount of liquor and the ingredients.
  • Pre-mixed batches are dispensed when the customer orders, not pre-poured.
  • Infusions and aging: no extra fermentation raising the alcohol content; ingredients on the menu; cannabis may not be used; labels with date, liquor type/brand/quantity, other ingredients and the preparer's name; batch records kept on site for at least two years.
  • Class A licensees may sell drinks for off-premises consumption in a sealed, tamper-evident container labelled with the brand and volume of liquor and the other ingredients, not packaged to look like a retail liquor product.

ss. 67.1 and 91.1; Liquor Licensee Handbook 5.3 bring-your-own and leaving with liquor

  • With an AGLC endorsement, patrons may bring commercially made, sealed liquor: the licensee posts corkage fees, the patron hands the liquor to staff on arrival, and staff open and serve it.
  • Staff may not let a person take liquor bought for on-premises drinking out of the premises, except a partially consumed bottle of wine (or other bottle) that staff have resealed, or inside a municipal entertainment district under its bylaws.
  • Liquor cannot be sold, served or consumed in a storage room, vestibule, kitchen, hallway or other back-room area.

4.2 Patios and 5.15 Golf courses

  • An approved patio is part of the licensed premises and follows all licence conditions; it must be clearly defined (planters, rope, railing) and under the licensee's control.
  • A Minors Allowed patio next to a Minors Prohibited patio must be separated by a barrier at least three feet high, with a "Staff Only" sign on any service gate and a "No Minors" sign.
  • Patrons may not leave a patio with liquor, except commercially sealed liquor.
  • Patrons may not bring liquor onto a golf course; beverage carts must also offer non-alcoholic drinks and snacks and be run by staff aged 18 or older.

5.10 Entertainment

  • Only AGLC-licensed gaming or AGLC-approved electronic gaming devices are allowed in licensed premises.
  • Professional live fighting needs AGLC approval, a sanctioning body, no patron participation, a defined ring and at least one metre between participants and patrons.

Licences, inspections and penalties

Class A, B, C and D licences, special event licences, posting the licence and the FASD poster, AGLC and police inspectors, the licensee's responsibility for staff, fines and other penalties.

Practise Licences, inspections and penalties questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

ss. 35 to 47 and 62 Liquor licence classes

  • Class A: premises open to any member of the public; sale for drinking on and off the premises (hotel licences also cover room service and in-room bars).
  • Class B: drinking on premises only, where entry needs a ticket or user fee (recreational or tourist facilities, race tracks, stadiums, convention centres, theatres, public conveyances) or a business whose main purpose is not food or drink, in a class approved by the Board.
  • Class C: clubs, canteens, travellers' lounges and institutions where entry is limited to members, residents and their guests.
  • Class D: off-premises sales, including retail and general merchandise liquor stores, hotel general off sales, manufacturer's off sales and delivery service.
  • Class E: manufacturers. Class F: ferment-on-premises facilities.
  • Special event licences: public resale, private resale, private non-sale, hospitality, competition and industrial use.
  • s. 65: a special event licensee buys its liquor from a Class D licensee and removes leftover liquor within 48 hours after the licence expires.
  • s. 75: liquor licences run for one or two years. s. 76: a licence cannot be sold or transferred; doing so cancels it.

s. 79; Liquor Licensee Handbook 3.1 and 5.3 posting

  • The liquor licence, and any document the Board requires, must be posted in a prominent place in the premises.
  • Class A licensees must post AGLC's Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) poster in a prominent location.
  • Board policies are conditions of the licence, including policies changed after the licence is issued (Handbook 1.1; GLCA s. 61).

ss. 98 and 99; Liquor Licensee Handbook 12.1 Inspections

  • AGLC can designate inspectors, and every police officer is an inspector under the Act; staff must cooperate fully with police who enter the premises.
  • No one may hinder or obstruct an inspector.
  • AGLC inspectors carry photo ID, and a licensee may ask to see it before giving information.
  • Inspectors check compliance with the Act, regulation and Board policies, investigate complaints, audit records and can give staff training sessions.
  • An inspector who sees an alleged violation may prepare an Incident Report; the CEO or delegate may propose a penalty or send it to the Board, which may impose a penalty with or without a hearing (Handbook 13.1).

ss. 91, 116 to 121 Penalties and responsibility

  • The Board may warn a licensee, add conditions, impose a fine (up to $200,000 in general, or up to $1,000,000 for failing to comply with the Act and certain other laws), suspend or cancel a licence.
  • Breaking sections such as 70, 71, 74, 75, 75.1, 84, 87 or 89 is an offence. Unless a specific penalty applies, an individual faces a fine up to $10,000, up to 6 months in jail, or both; a corporation up to $50,000.
  • Adulteration or unlicensed sales: an individual faces up to $50,000 and/or 12 months; a corporation up to $100,000.
  • If an employee breaks the Act, the licensee is deemed to have broken it too, unless the licensee proves it took all reasonable steps to prevent it.

1.5 Licensee's responsibilities

  • Premises must be run in a socially responsible manner: trained staff, a high priority on safety, steps to reduce assaults, and care for intoxicated patrons getting home safely.
  • Licensees and staff with information about smuggled, stolen or homemade liquor for sale, untaxed tobacco or illegal gaming must contact AGLC.
  • Liquor service carries a risk of liability; questions about liability should go to a lawyer.
  • AGLC may ask a licensee or manager without enough English to understand the rules to have an interpreter during inspections and hearings (Handbook 1.1).

Impaired driving and liquor in public

Alberta's Immediate Roadside Sanctions, zero tolerance for novice and commercial drivers, getting patrons home safely, liquor in vehicles and where liquor may be consumed in public.

Practise Impaired driving and liquor in public questionsFlashcardsOfficial chapter

Impaired driving penalties (Immediate Roadside Sanctions)

  • Alberta uses Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS) under the Traffic Safety Act; police can also lay Criminal Code charges with further court penalties.
  • A driver suspected of impairment by alcohol, drugs or a medical condition can get a 24-hour licence suspension.
  • IRS WARN: blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 to 0.079, or failing sobriety tests. First time: 3-day licence suspension, 3-day vehicle seizure and a $300 fine plus a 20% victim fine surcharge. Second: 15-day suspension, 7-day seizure, $600. Third: 30-day suspension, 7-day seizure, $1,200.
  • IRS FAIL: blood alcohol of 0.08 or more, or failing or refusing testing. First time: 90 days with no driving, then a 12-month suspension during which the driver may join the ignition interlock program; 30-day vehicle seizure; $1,000 fine plus 20% surcharge; the Planning Ahead course.
  • IRS ZERO Novice: zero tolerance for any alcohol or drugs for Class 7 learners and Class 5-GDL drivers: 30-day suspension, 7-day vehicle seizure, $200 fine plus surcharge.
  • IRS ZERO Commercial: zero tolerance for drivers of commercial vehicles; first time 3-day suspension and $300 fine plus surcharge.

1.5 and 5.8 safe transportation

  • Licensees should run a program to reduce impaired driving, such as a designated driver program where one person in a group does not drink and drives the others home.
  • Show care that intoxicated patrons get home safely: suggest and offer to call a taxi; if an apparently intoxicated person drives off, note the plate, model, colour and direction and call police.

s. 84 and GLCR s. 87.1 Liquor in vehicles

  • No one may drink liquor in a vehicle unless the vehicle is being used as a temporary residence (or the Act or a liquor licence allows it).
  • Liquor being transported must be in a capped, corked or otherwise closed container (even if previously opened) and not within easy reach of anyone in the vehicle.
  • Licensed limousine and bus drivers and attendants, and large-format bike operators, need ProServe.

ss. 89 and 90 Public places

  • Liquor may not be consumed in a public place, only in a residence, temporary residence, licensed premises or a place allowed by regulation.
  • Exception: a picnic area in a public park designated by its owner or operator, with a sign showing the area and hours; a peace officer who believes a person is intoxicated may tell them to stop drinking there.
  • Exception: an entertainment district designated in a municipality's bylaws, following those bylaws.
  • An owner or operator of any other place may not knowingly allow people to have or drink liquor there.
  • A temporary residence includes a place a traveller pays to use, a vacation dwelling or a tent where camping is allowed (GLCA s. 1).

Written in our own words from: Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act and AGLC Liquor Licensee Handbook

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