# Smart Serve for managers and licence holders

> What Ontario licensees and managers must do about Smart Serve: who must be certified, proof for inspectors, house policies, staff age and the rules you answer for.

Canonical: https://smartservepracticetest.ca/for/managers-and-owners
Last updated: 2026-10-26

Under the AGCO’s standards, the **licensee** is the one who must make sure staff are certified, and the licensee answers for what happens on the premises. Here’s the checklist.

## Who you must have certified

- Every person involved in the sale, service, sampling or delivery of liquor, or in taking liquor orders. The AGCO says this includes managers.
- Security staff you employ (or, at a stadium, use).
- Golf course cart staff and course marshals, if you have a golf course endorsement.
- A certified employee present at any liquor vending machine (allowed since September 2026 under strict conditions).

Certificates last five years. The AGCO recommends keeping a copy of each staff member’s certificate, because inspectors can ask for proof at any time. Smart Serve sells group tokens through organizational accounts, and you can track redemptions there.

## Rules the licensee answers for

| Rule | Source |
| --- | --- |
| Staff who handle liquor are at least 18 | O. Reg. 746/21, s. 11 |
| You or an appointed manager control the premises, including who enters and stays | O. Reg. 746/21, s. 42 |
| No intoxication, unlawful gambling, disorderly conduct or drugs on the premises | O. Reg. 746/21, s. 43 |
| Reasonable steps to deter disorderly conduct nearby | O. Reg. 746/21, s. 44 |
| No practices that encourage immoderate drinking; no drinking contests | O. Reg. 746/21, s. 24; Standard 5.6 |
| Minimum prices and posted drink lists | O. Reg. 746/21, s. 26; Standard 5.1 |
| Non-alcoholic drinks at moderate prices | Standard 5.9 |
| Capacity, including staff | Standard 6 |
| Pregnancy warning sign, at least 8 × 10 inches | O. Reg. 745/21, s. 24 |
| Police access to the premises | O. Reg. 746/21, s. 43 |

## Penalties and liability

- Most offences: up to $250,000 for a corporation, or up to $100,000 and a year in jail for an individual (LLCA, s. 68).
- Selling to a minor: a licensee faces a minimum fine of $1,000 and a licence suspension of at least seven days on conviction (LLCA, s. 69).
- Civil claims from people injured by a guest who was over-served (LLCA, s. 52).

## House policies the AGCO recommends

- Put policies in writing, give every employee a copy and tell staff management will back them when they refuse service.
- Market food and price non-alcoholic drinks attractively.
- Limit drinks sold to one person at a time; discourage drinking games.
- Have a safe transportation plan and keep taxi and transit contacts handy.
- Keep an incident log and post emergency numbers.
- No drinking on the job for anyone, managers included.

House policies don’t replace the law: the AGCO is clear that they never override the Act, regulations or the Registrar’s standards.

## Questions people ask

### Do managers need Smart Serve in Ontario?

Yes, if they’re involved in selling, serving or taking orders for liquor, which managers usually are. The AGCO’s guidance says the requirement includes managers.

### Do I need to keep copies of staff Smart Serve certificates?

The AGCO recommends it, because inspectors may ask for proof of a staff member’s certification at any time.

### Can I pay for my staff’s Smart Serve?

Yes. Smart Serve sells tokens through organizational accounts; each covers one course and final test with two attempts. Tokens must be redeemed within 30 days.

## Sources

- [AGCO: Registrar’s Interim Standards and Requirements for Liquor](https://www.agco.ca/en/alcohol/registrars-interim-standards-and-requirements-liquor) (checked 2026-10-26)
- [AGCO: Responsible liquor sale, service and delivery training](https://www.agco.ca/en/alcohol/responsible-liquor-sale-service-and-delivery-training) (checked 2026-10-26)
- [AGCO: Information sheet, recognizing intoxication](https://www.agco.ca/en/alcohol/information-sheet-recognizing-intoxication) (checked 2026-10-26)
- [AGCO: Information sheet, house policies](https://www.agco.ca/en/alcohol/information-sheet-house-policies) (checked 2026-10-26)
- [O. Reg. 746/21: Licensing (e-Laws)](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r21746) (checked 2026-10-26)
- [O. Reg. 745/21: General (e-Laws)](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r21745) (checked 2026-10-26)
- [Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (e-Laws)](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/19l15b) (checked 2026-10-26)
- [Smart Serve Ontario: Online Staff Training (group tokens)](https://smartserve.ca/online-staff-training/) (checked 2026-10-26)

Not affiliated with Smart Serve Ontario or the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

## Related

- [Smart Serve for security and door staff](https://smartservepracticetest.ca/for/security-staff)
- [The law and your responsibilities: practice quiz](https://smartservepracticetest.ca/practice/the-law)
- [Smart Serve online vs in-class](https://smartservepracticetest.ca/vs/smart-serve-online-vs-in-class)
- [How to get your Smart Serve certificate](https://smartservepracticetest.ca/smart-serve-certificate)