You’ve put in the hard yards, and now you’ve got a certificate to prove it. Congratulations!
Now, you get to enjoy all kinds of benefits. You should now have a firm understanding of Texas alcohol laws, and how to manage both minors and intoxicated patrons.
With an understanding of the law and guidelines, you may also now be more aware of how to stay within the limits of that law and those guidelines. What’s more, as the TABC has the power to take administrative action against your venue’s liquor license, your certification will act as a form of protection to your employer, known as the Safe Harbor Act.
The Safe Harbor Act means that the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission will not take action against your employer’s liquor license as long as the alcohol seller is not a company officer or owner. It also means that all employees must have their TABC certification within 30 days of their hire date, and the employer does not encourage their employees to violate the law.
Each employer should also have written policies for serving alcohol responsibly, and employees should have read and understood these policies. The Safe Harbor Act Also Protects against TABC action as long as you have three or fewer violations in 12 months. Employers may want to set up an employer TABC account to help ensure they protect themselves.