Free practice exam
Serving It Right practice test
Serving It Right practice test
About 35 questions, answers explained as you go
Like the real test, you pass with 80%. A new random set every time, from 124 questions.
How this practice test works
- 35 questions per test, the same length as the real exam, drawn from a larger bank so each attempt is different.
- 80% to pass (28 of 35), the same pass mark the official program publishes.
- Four topics: liquor law and licensee duties, minors and checking ID, intoxication and standard drinks, and refusing service and incidents.
- No timer and no account. Your answers stay in your browser.
| The real Serving It Right exam | As published |
|---|---|
| Questions | 35 multiple choice, randomly drawn, so every exam is different |
| Pass mark | 80% (28 of 35) |
| Time limit | None. You can log out and finish later |
| Exam fee | $40 plus tax, with 3 attempts included |
| After 3 failed attempts | Another $40 buys 3 more attempts |
| Course material | Free, about 4 hours of study, English only |
| Results | Right away; print your certificate as soon as you pass |
| Certificate lasts | 5 years from the day you complete the exam |
What the questions cover
| Topic | Questions per test | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Liquor law and licensee responsibilities | 10 | Hours of service, clearing patrons, serving sizes, staff drinking, delivery, penalties |
| Minors and checking ID | 8 | BC’s two-ID rule, primary and secondary ID, fake ID, minors at work |
| Intoxication and over-service | 9 | Signs of intoxication, standard drinks, BAC, factors like food, weight and tolerance |
| Refusing service, incidents and safety | 8 | Cutting someone off, the 24-hour rule, incident logs, duty of care, getting people home |
Drill one topic
Study every question
Liquor law and licensee responsibilities (32)
Under BC’s liquor regulation, the widest window a liquor primary licence can allow for liquor service is…
Answer: 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. the next day
The regulation says liquor service can start no earlier than 9 a.m. and end no later than 4 a.m. the next day. Your own hours are the ones printed on your licence, which can be shorter.
When are you allowed to serve liquor?
Answer: Only during the hours shown on your licence, permit or authorization
You may sell or serve liquor only during the hours on your licence, permit or authorization.
A bar’s liquor service ends at 1 a.m. By when must every patron be out of the service area?
Answer: 1:30 a.m.
In a liquor primary, patrons must be cleared from the service area within half an hour after liquor service ends.
In a restaurant (food primary), what has to happen within 30 minutes of the end of liquor service?
Answer: Liquor, drinks and glassware must be taken from patrons
Food primary and catering: liquor is removed from patrons within half an hour. Diners can stay; it’s bars that must clear patrons out.
Your bar’s hours of liquor service are over. Can you let new patrons in?
Answer: No, patrons must not be let in outside the permitted hours
You must not allow patrons to enter outside the permitted hours of liquor service.
A server wants a beer on their break, partway through a shift. Is that allowed?
Answer: No, staff can’t drink liquor during working hours, including breaks and meal periods
Licensees and staff can’t drink liquor at work during working hours. That includes breaks, meal periods and the time between shifts on the same day.
A server’s shift is over. When may they have a drink in the service area?
Answer: When they’re of legal drinking age, it’s during the hours of sale, and the drink isn’t given in place of wages
After work, staff may drink in the service area if they’re of legal drinking age, it’s during the licence’s hours of sale, and liquor isn’t offered in place of wages or as a bonus.
Can you refill an original bottle bought from the Liquor Distribution Branch?
Answer: No, original containers must never be refilled
Original containers bought from the Liquor Distribution Branch can’t be refilled with anything. That keeps unlawful liquor out of your stock.
Can a bar pre-mix a batch of drinks (for example in a Bellini machine) before anyone orders?
Answer: Yes, if the liquor comes from original containers bought from the Liquor Distribution Branch
Pre-mixing by hand or with a device is allowed, as long as the liquor came from original containers bought from the Liquor Distribution Branch.
Where is “Bring Your Own Wine” allowed in BC?
Answer: In food primary restaurants that choose to allow it, which may charge a corkage fee
A food primary restaurant may let customers bring an unopened, commercially made bottle of wine to drink with food, and may charge corkage.
A couple can’t finish their bottle of wine before liquor service ends. What can staff offer?
Answer: Re-seal the bottle so they can take it home
Staff may re-seal an unfinished bottle of wine for the patron to take away.
Which unfinished drink can a restaurant seal for a patron to take away?
Answer: A partly finished bottle of wine
Wine is the only drink you may offer to seal for take-away.
In a liquor primary, what’s the largest serving of spirits one patron can have at a time?
Answer: 3 oz (85 ml)
Distilled liquor: single servings of no more than 3 fl oz (85 ml) per person at a time, even in a shared pitcher.
What’s the maximum single serving of draught beer for one patron?
Answer: 24 oz (682 ml)
Draught beer and cider: no more than 24 oz (682 ml) per serving. A pitcher of up to 60 oz is only for two or more patrons sharing.
What’s the maximum single serving of wine by the glass?
Answer: 10 oz
Wine: single servings of up to 10 oz (284 ml). A 750 ml bottle is allowed when at least two patrons share it with food.
A patron at the bar orders a 12 oz beer and a 5 oz glass of wine, both for themselves. Can you serve both at once?
Answer: Yes, because together they don’t go over two standard drinks
The maximum serving can be split into different types of drinks as long as the total isn’t more than two standard drinks.
Can a pub give the winning trivia team a free round of drinks as the prize?
Answer: No, liquor can’t be offered or given as a prize
Games of skill and contests are fine, but liquor can’t be offered or given as a prize.
A group asks to play a drinking game at their table. What do you do?
Answer: Say no: drinking games aren’t allowed, even played without liquor
You must not provide or allow activities designed to encourage drinking, and that includes drinking games, with or without liquor.
Your liquor licence allows 120 people, but the venue’s occupant load set by the fire authority is 100. How many people can you have inside?
Answer: 100
You must not exceed your licence capacity or the venue’s maximum occupant load, so the lower number is your limit.
Who may deliver liquor with a take-out meal on a restaurant’s behalf?
Answer: A person 19 or older who is Serving It Right certified
Anyone delivering liquor for the licensee, staff or a third-party driver, must be 19 or older and SIR certified. Common carriers like Canada Post are the exception.
You arrive with a liquor delivery and the customer at the door is clearly intoxicated. What do you do?
Answer: Don’t hand over the liquor
Liquor may only be delivered to people who are 19 or older and not intoxicated.
Under the licence terms, who must complete Serving It Right in a bar or restaurant?
Answer: The licensee, managers and anyone who sells or serves liquor
SIR must be completed by licensees, managers (staff who supervise the sale or service of liquor) and servers (staff who sell or serve liquor).
How long must a licensee keep a record of each employee’s SIR certificate number and expiry date?
Answer: At least six years
Licensees keep records for at least six years showing each employee’s name, SIR certificate number and expiry date.
A liquor inspector asks to see your staff’s SIR certificate numbers. The licensee must…
Answer: Produce the record on request
The record of certificate numbers and expiry dates must be produced to a liquor inspector or peace officer on request.
What must every licensee display in the service area?
Answer: At least one social responsibility poster or tent card
Licensees must display at least one social responsibility poster or tent card in a prominent spot in the service area.
On New Year’s Eve, how late may a bar serve liquor if food is available?
Answer: Until 4 a.m. on January 1, unless local bylaws prohibit it
On New Year’s Eve you may serve until 4 a.m. on January 1, whatever your usual closing hour, as long as food is available and local bylaws allow it.
For an offence such as serving a minor, what’s the maximum fine for an individual who isn’t a licensee?
Answer: $10,000, and up to 6 months in jail
An individual who isn’t a licensee faces a fine of up to $10,000, up to 6 months in jail, or both. Licensees and corporations face fines of up to $50,000.
If liquor is served to a minor, what’s the minimum penalty for the licensed establishment?
Answer: A 7-day licence suspension or a $7,000 fine
The minimum penalty for serving a minor is a 7-day licence suspension or a $7,000 fine.
Police on a visit find a bar overcrowded. What do they usually record the problem on?
Answer: A Licensed Premises Check form, with a copy sent to the LCRB
Police record violations on a Licensed Premises Check form, leave a copy with the licensee and send one to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, which may follow up.
Who can suspend or cancel a liquor licence or impose a monetary penalty?
Answer: The general manager of the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch
The general manager administers the Act and can impose terms and conditions, suspend or cancel a licence, and impose monetary penalties.
Staff notice a patron has brought their own bottle of vodka into the bar. What must happen?
Answer: Ask the patron to leave right away and record it in the incident log
If a patron brings unlawful liquor into the establishment, they must be asked to leave immediately, and it goes in the incident log.
Can a caterer drop off the liquor at an event and leave?
Answer: No, catering staff must be there whenever liquor is consumed
No liquor drop-off: catering staff must be present at a catered event whenever liquor is being consumed.
Minors and checking ID (30)
In BC, how many pieces of ID should you ask for when there’s any doubt a customer is 19 or older?
Answer: Two
BC’s rule is two pieces of ID. Examine both carefully and act on whether they’re authentic.
A piece of primary ID must…
Answer: Be issued by a government agency and show the person’s name, date of birth and photo
Primary ID comes from a government agency (Canadian or foreign) and shows name, date of birth and picture.
Which of these is primary ID?
Answer: A passport
A passport is government-issued with name, birth date and photo. The others can only be secondary ID.
Secondary ID has to show the person’s name and…
Answer: Their signature or their photo
Secondary ID backs up the primary piece. It must show the holder’s name and either their signature or their picture.
Which of these works as a second piece of ID?
Answer: A credit card with the customer’s name and signature
A credit card with the holder’s name and signature is acceptable secondary ID.
A customer shows the combined BC Driver’s Licence and Services Card. How many pieces of ID does it count as?
Answer: One
The combined card counts as only one piece of ID. You still need a second piece.
A customer shows an expired out-of-province driver’s licence. Can it be their primary ID?
Answer: Yes, if it’s readable and you can recognize them from the photo
Expired and foreign ID can be accepted as long as it’s readable and you can recognize the person from the picture.
A visitor from Germany shows their German passport as primary ID. What’s the rule?
Answer: Foreign ID can be accepted if it’s readable and you can recognize them
Foreign government ID is acceptable if it’s readable and you can recognize the person from the photo. They still need a second piece.
A customer offers a photo of their driver’s licence on their phone. What do you do?
Answer: Don’t accept it; pictures of ID aren’t acceptable
The LCRB says pictures of ID aren’t acceptable because they’re hard to authenticate.
A customer who might be under 19 can only produce one piece of acceptable ID. You should…
Answer: Refuse service
If a person can’t produce two pieces of acceptable ID proving they’re 19 or older, you refuse service.
Under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, you have a defence if a minor got liquor after you…
Answer: Required the prescribed ID, examined it and had reason to believe it was authentic
The Act says you don’t break the minors rule if you required prescribed ID, examined it and had reason to believe it was authentic.
What’s the right way to check an ID?
Answer: Hold it yourself, take it out of any sleeve and check both sides
Hold the ID in your hand, have it taken out of any sleeve or wallet, and check the front and the back.
Why is it worth checking the back of an ID?
Answer: Counterfeiters often work hard on the front and just photocopy the back
Fakes often have a convincing front and a photocopied back. Look for blurred lettering or poor focus.
An ID feels thick and layered, with bubbling around the photo. What might that mean?
Answer: It may have been tampered with or laminated after it was issued
Bubbling, peeling, raised spots and an unusually thick, layered feel can be signs of tampering or after-issue lamination.
When you compare a customer with their ID photo, what should you focus on?
Answer: Facial features like cheekbones and the spacing of the eyes
Hair and even eye colour are easy to change. Facial structure, such as cheekbones and eye spacing, is harder to fake.
You’ve looked at two pieces of ID and you’re still not sure they’re genuine. What now?
Answer: Ask for a third piece, and refuse if you still doubt it
You can ask for a third piece of ID. If you’re still not sure the ID is authentic, you must refuse entry and service.
You suspect an ID has been altered. Which check can help?
Answer: Ask them to sign and date a piece of paper, then compare the signature
Having the person sign and date a piece of paper lets you compare their writing with the signature on the ID.
Why ask a customer something like their middle name or postal code while checking ID?
Answer: Someone using another person’s ID may hesitate
The real cardholder answers without hesitating. Someone using borrowed or fake ID often can’t.
On BC Learner (L) and Novice (N) licences, what’s printed to make age checks easier?
Answer: The date the holder turns 19
L and N licences show the date the holder turns 19 prominently, so legal age is quick to verify.
You see a 25-year-old pass their drink to an 18-year-old at the same table. What do you do?
Answer: Refuse service to the whole group and remove the alcohol
Buying for a minor is against the law. If an adult gives alcohol to a minor, refuse service to the entire group and take the alcohol away.
Can minors come into a liquor primary such as a bar or pub?
Answer: Only if the licence says minors are permitted, and then only under its conditions
You must not allow minors in a liquor primary unless your licence permits them, for example under a family foodservice term until 10 p.m.
Can a 17-year-old come into a restaurant (food primary) on their own?
Answer: Yes, minors can enter restaurants on their own; they just can’t be served liquor
Minors are allowed into food primary restaurants on their own and can’t be kept out because of age. Selling or serving them liquor is still illegal.
A restaurant employs a 16-year-old server. Which of these may they do?
Answer: Carry liquor to tables under the supervision of SIR-certified adult staff
In a food primary, employees 16 or older may serve liquor but can’t open bottles, pour or mix it, and must be supervised by SIR-certified adult staff.
A pub (a liquor primary, not a stadium) that’s allowed to have minors hires a 17-year-old. What can they do?
Answer: Work only in jobs that don’t involve selling or serving liquor
In a liquor primary, minors may be employed only if they’re never selling or serving liquor. Stadiums are the one exception.
A pub books a family band whose drummer is 16. Can the band play?
Answer: Yes; minors can be employed as entertainers if adult staff supervise them at all times
Minors may be employed as entertainers, supervised by adult staff at all times, but never in adult-oriented entertainment.
At a special event, can a 17-year-old volunteer sell drink tickets?
Answer: No; minors can’t sell, serve or handle liquor or drink tickets at special events
Minors can’t work as servers, bartenders or managers at a special event, and can’t sell, serve or handle liquor, including drink tickets.
A minor is refused at a liquor store. A few minutes later an adult tries to buy the same products. What do you do?
Answer: Refuse the sale; it looks like a purchase for a minor
Watch for repeat purchases of the same product within minutes. If you suspect someone is buying for a minor, refuse the sale.
In the LCRB’s Minors as Agents Program, minors hired by the LCRB…
Answer: Try to buy liquor, supervised by inspectors, to see whether staff check age
Minor Agents try to buy liquor or cannabis while supervised by at least two inspectors. They answer questions honestly and don’t misrepresent themselves.
According to the LCRB, when should you check ID?
Answer: Whenever there’s any doubt the person is 19 or older
Check ID whenever there’s any doubt a customer is of legal age. Licensees may also set a stricter policy, such as checking everyone.
Where should ID be checked in a liquor primary?
Answer: In an area that’s well lit and protected from entertainment noise
Licensees must provide a well-lit area, protected from entertainment noise, so staff can check ID and ask questions properly.
Alcohol, intoxication and preventing over-service (32)
BC law says you must not sell or serve liquor to a person who is…
Answer: Intoxicated or showing signs of intoxication
No one may sell, serve or give liquor to an intoxicated person or a person showing signs of intoxication.
As well as not serving intoxicated people, licensees and staff must not…
Answer: Allow a person in the service area to become intoxicated
The Act also forbids allowing a person in the service area to become intoxicated, so your job starts before the signs show.
How much 5% beer makes one standard drink?
Answer: 12 oz
12 oz of 5% beer holds 0.6 oz of pure alcohol: one standard drink.
How much 12% wine makes one standard drink?
Answer: 5 oz
5 oz of 12% wine holds 0.6 oz of pure alcohol: one standard drink.
How much 40% spirits makes one standard drink?
Answer: 1.5 oz
1.5 oz of 40% spirits holds 0.6 oz of pure alcohol: one standard drink.
In Canada, a standard drink contains how much pure alcohol?
Answer: 0.6 oz (13.6 g)
A Canadian standard drink is any drink with 0.6 oz (13.6 grams) of pure alcohol.
A drink made with 3 oz of 40% spirits is about how many standard drinks?
Answer: Two
3 oz × 0.40 = 1.2 oz of alcohol. That’s 0.6 oz twice over, so two standard drinks.
A 20 oz pint of 6% craft beer is about how many standard drinks?
Answer: Two
20 oz × 0.06 = 1.2 oz of alcohol, which is two standard drinks of 0.6 oz each.
A 9 oz glass of 12% wine is about how many standard drinks?
Answer: Almost two
9 oz × 0.12 = 1.08 oz of alcohol, close to two standard drinks (1.2 oz).
About how fast does the liver process alcohol?
Answer: About one standard drink an hour
The liver processes alcohol at a fairly fixed rate of about one standard drink (0.6 oz) an hour. Drinking faster than that builds up intoxication.
What actually sobers a person up?
Answer: Time
Only time sobers a person up. Coffee, showers and exercise don’t speed it up.
On an empty stomach, alcohol can reach the brain in as little as…
Answer: About three minutes
Alcohol can be absorbed and reach the brain in as little as three minutes.
How does food affect alcohol?
Answer: It slows how fast alcohol gets into the bloodstream, but doesn’t soak it up
Food slows absorption; it doesn’t absorb the alcohol. The effect still comes, just more slowly.
Which food does the most to slow alcohol absorption?
Answer: Food high in fat and protein
Fat and protein digest slowly and slow alcohol’s movement into the blood. Sugary or starchy food helps less, and salty food makes people thirsty.
Two patrons both weigh 85 kg. Which one is likely to become intoxicated sooner?
Answer: The one with more body fat
Fatty tissue holds less water than muscle, so at the same weight the person with more body fat dilutes alcohol less.
Why do females generally become intoxicated faster than males?
Answer: More body fat, less body water and lower levels of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol
Females generally have more body fat, less body water and less of the enzyme that metabolizes alcohol.
A regular with a high tolerance has had many drinks but seems fine. What’s the risk?
Answer: They may not show early signs, so you can underestimate how intoxicated they are
People with high tolerance may not show the early signs, but they do become intoxicated. Count drinks as well as watching behaviour.
A patron comes in after a long shift on very little sleep. How might that affect them?
Answer: Alcohol may affect them more
Physical, mental or emotional fatigue and stress make a person more susceptible to alcohol.
What’s the most useful thing to watch for when judging intoxication?
Answer: A change in their behaviour since they arrived
Assess patrons when they arrive. A later change in speech, mood or coordination is often the first sign.
Which of these is a sign of changing coordination?
Answer: Fumbling with a wallet or missing the straw
Struggling with a card, fumbling change or missing a straw are early coordination changes; bumping into furniture is a later one.
A patron switches to shooters and keeps forgetting where they left their drink. This points to…
Answer: Impaired judgment
Forgetting things and speeding up with bigger or faster drinks such as shooters are signs of impaired judgment.
Which condition can produce symptoms that look like intoxication?
Answer: Diabetes or hypoglycemia
Diabetes, hypoglycemia, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and some disabilities can look like intoxication. Your first assessment matters.
A patron seems confused after just one drink and is wearing a medical alert bracelet. What do you do?
Answer: Stop alcohol service, ask if they feel ill and help them get medical attention
Ask whether they feel ill and check for a medical alert bracelet. Stopping service and getting medical help could save a life.
What does combining alcohol and cannabis usually do?
Answer: Causes more intense intoxication than either one alone
Using alcohol and cannabis together generally produces a more intense intoxication. Edibles may not smell, so stay alert.
Why is mixing alcohol with energy drinks risky?
Answer: The caffeine can hide how drunk a person feels, so they drink more
Caffeine can mask feelings of intoxication, leaving someone “wide awake and drunk” and likely to overconsume.
Alcohol is a…
Answer: Depressant
Alcohol is a depressant. A mild early lift is followed by a down feeling as people drink more.
In BC, what happens to a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 or more?
Answer: Provincial penalties under BC’s Motor Vehicle Act
BC’s Motor Vehicle Act treats 0.05 as the level where driving is affected. It isn’t a criminal offence, but provincial penalties are significant.
Driving with what blood alcohol concentration is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code?
Answer: 0.08
The Criminal Code sets driving impairment at a BAC of 0.08.
After someone’s last drink, how long can it take for their blood alcohol to peak?
Answer: Up to 30 minutes
It may take up to 30 minutes after the last drink to reach the highest BAC, so someone can seem fine at last call and be worse at the door.
Does mixing different kinds of drinks make someone more intoxicated?
Answer: No; the amount of alcohol is what counts, though mixing can make hangovers worse
Mixing drinks doesn’t raise intoxication; total alcohol does. It can make a hangover or nausea more likely.
What are the only accurate ways to measure blood alcohol?
Answer: An approved screening device such as a breathalyzer, or a blood test
Only an approved screening device or a blood test measures BAC accurately. Counting standard drinks gives servers a practical estimate.
Which order gives a patron the most alcohol in one drink?
Answer: A double, or a drink with more than one kind of liquor
Doubles and drinks made with several liquors usually hold more alcohol than a single, so they speed up intoxication.
Refusing service, incidents and safety (30)
A patron you asked to leave tries to come back in an hour later. What’s the rule?
Answer: They can’t come back for at least 24 hours
A person asked to leave or barred must not return for at least 24 hours.
What happens if someone comes back within 24 hours of being asked to leave?
Answer: They commit an offence and may be arrested
Returning within 24 hours is an offence, and the person may be arrested.
Someone arrives at the door clearly intoxicated. What must you do?
Answer: Refuse entry
You must not let a person who appears intoxicated enter the service area. Record the refusal in the incident log.
A patron in your bar has become intoxicated. What must happen?
Answer: Stop service, have them leave the service area and make sure they leave safely
An intoxicated person can’t remain in the service area. Refuse service, have them removed and make sure they depart safely.
Which of these must go in the incident log?
Answer: Refusing entry to, or removing, an intoxicated person
Refusals, removals, injuries, fights, emergency calls and illegal acts all go in the incident log.
How long must incident log records be kept?
Answer: At least six years
Incident records must be kept for at least six years, which covers lawsuits filed long after the event.
What’s the best kind of book for an incident log?
Answer: A bound book with numbered pages
A bound book with printed page numbers is more credible in court, because tampering shows.
What should an incident report include?
Answer: The date, time and place, what happened, who was involved, the action taken, witnesses and any related sales records
Capture the key details, keep the related sales records and get witness names while memories are fresh.
Which is the best way to tell a patron you’re stopping their alcohol service?
Answer: “I’m not able to serve you any more alcohol tonight.”
Use calm “I” statements and avoid labels like “drunk” or “smashed” that put people on the defensive.
You’re about to stop serving a patron. What’s a good first step?
Answer: Find a backup co-worker and brief them
Assess the situation, then line up a backup co-worker who knows what’s happening and can help, for example by arranging a ride.
You’ve told a patron you can’t serve them any more alcohol. What do you do with the drinks in front of them?
Answer: Remove any alcohol within their reach
Once service stops, take all liquor away from the patron, at the table, at the counter or in a store.
A patron you’ve cut off argues for “just one more.” What do you do?
Answer: Stay calm and firm; don’t argue or bargain
Be courteous but firm. Explain your responsibilities, use closed statements, and don’t argue or negotiate.
An intoxicated patron insists on driving home. What should you do?
Answer: Call the police
If an intoxicated patron insists on driving, call the police. Offer alternatives first, such as a sober friend, a taxi or transit.
Despite your efforts, an intoxicated patron drives away. What now?
Answer: Note the car, plate and direction and call police right away
Write down the vehicle description, licence plate and direction of travel, then call police immediately.
You’ve called a taxi for an intoxicated patron. What else should you do?
Answer: Watch them get into the taxi and leave
Call a taxi if there’s any doubt about a safe ride, and watch the patron get in and leave.
How far does your duty of care to an intoxicated patron extend?
Answer: It can continue until they get home, or somewhere they can sober up safely
Responsibility can continue after the patron leaves, until they reach home or another place where they can sober up.
In Jordan House Hotel v. Menow (Supreme Court of Canada, 1973), what happened to the hotel?
Answer: It was held partly liable for injuries a patron suffered after being ejected while intoxicated
The court held the hotel partly liable: staff served a man they knew was intoxicated, then ejected him with no safe way home. Hotel, patron and driver were each one-third at fault.
Who does a licensee’s duty of care extend to?
Answer: Patrons and innocent third parties who could be harmed
Licensees, managers and staff owe a duty of care to patrons and to innocent third parties, on and off the premises.
A bartender says they couldn’t have known a patron was intoxicated because they never saw them. Is that a defence?
Answer: No; you need ways to monitor patrons, and liability can arise when you ought to have known
Not knowing isn’t necessarily a defence. Licensees must be able to monitor consumption, and courts look at what staff knew or ought to have known.
A court finds a bar 15% at fault for a crash and the intoxicated driver can’t pay their share. What can happen to the bar?
Answer: It may have to pay the shortfall
When an injured person isn’t to blame, each defendant who caused the harm can be made to pay all of the damages, so the bar may cover the driver’s share.
A patron refuses to leave and is a danger to others. If force is needed, how much may staff use?
Answer: Only the minimum force necessary
Only a reasonable, minimum amount of force. Any force that causes injury can expose staff and the establishment to legal action.
Two patrons have been shoving and yelling at each other for a couple of minutes. What do the courts expect of staff?
Answer: Take reasonable steps to intervene before it escalates, calling police if needed
In Hartley v. RCM Management, a BC court found a nightclub liable because security didn’t step in during a long altercation before someone was hurt.
Anyone providing door security at a bar must be…
Answer: Licensed under the Security Services Act
The liquor primary handbook says anyone providing door security must be licensed under BC’s Security Services Act.
You suspect a patron is carrying a weapon. What should you do?
Answer: Notify the police right away
Licensees must not let a person with a weapon enter or remain. If you know or suspect a patron has one, notify the police immediately.
You suspect a fight or other disorderly conduct is about to break out. What must you do?
Answer: Notify the police right away
If you know or suspect disorderly or unlawful behaviour has happened, is happening or may happen, you must notify the police immediately.
Which practice helps prevent drink spiking?
Answer: Serving each drink to the person who will drink it and clearing unattended glasses
Serve drinks directly to the person drinking them, remove unattended glasses and decline requests to add alcohol to someone else’s drink.
A patron drank a lot very quickly and now can’t be woken. What do you do?
Answer: Call 911 for immediate help
This could be alcohol poisoning, which affects the heart and lungs. Get immediate help by calling 911.
Two groups who were fighting inside both have to be ejected. What’s the safer approach?
Answer: Stagger the removals and use different exits
If violence could continue outside, stagger removals in time and carry them out in different areas.
A cut-off patron is unsteady on their feet. Before you physically help them, you should…
Answer: Ask whether they’d like your help
Always ask patrons if they want help before helping them, while your backup arranges a way home.
After cutting someone off, where should you be while they wait for their ride?
Answer: Within sight and earshot, busy with other work
Stay in the room, within line of sight and earshot, until their transportation arrives.
Questions people ask
+Are these the real Serving It Right exam questions?
No. The real exam draws its questions at random and isn’t published. Ours are original questions on the same rules, written from BC liquor law, the LCRB handbooks and the official course manual.
+How many questions are on the real Serving It Right test?
35 multiple-choice questions. You need 80%, which is 28 correct, to pass.
+Is the Serving It Right exam timed?
No. The program says the exam isn’t timed, and you can log out and continue later.
+How many times can I take the exam?
Your $40 exam purchase includes 3 attempts. If you don’t pass in 3 tries, another $40 buys 3 more.
Sources
- Serving It Right course and final exam (responsibleservicebc.gov.bc.ca) · checked October 26, 2026
- Serving It Right FAQs (responsibleservicebc.gov.bc.ca) · checked October 26, 2026
- Serving It Right program manual, July 2026 (Province of British Columbia, PDF) · checked October 26, 2026
- Liquor Primary Licence Terms and Conditions handbook, May 2026 (LCRB, PDF) · checked October 26, 2026
- Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation, B.C. Reg. 241/2016 (BC Laws) · checked October 26, 2026
Updated October 26, 2026. Not affiliated with the Government of British Columbia, the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch or the Serving It Right program.
Keep going
- The Serving It Right examWhat’s on the Serving It Right exam: 35 questions, 80% to pass, no time limit, $40 for 3 attempts. What it covers, and why no one can give you the answers.
- The best ways to study for Serving It RightThe best ways to study for Serving It Right: start with the free official course and manual, then drill the hard topics and take practice tests before the $40 exam.
- The Serving It Right certificateHow to get your BC Serving It Right certificate: who needs it, the $40 exam, how long it lasts (5 years), printing a lost certificate and renewing.
- Checking ID in BCBC’s ID rules for serving liquor: when to ask, the two pieces of ID you need, what counts as primary and secondary ID, expired and foreign ID, and fakes.