Selling alcohol today is more complicated than just knowing how to mix a good martini or remembering which beers are on special. The consequences for serving alcohol to a minor or visibly intoxicated person are serious. Not only could you face administrative and criminal fines and penalties, but you could also be sued in civil court for damages that person might cause after leaving your establishment.​

What is RAMP?

RAMP was created by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to help licensees and their employees serve alcohol responsibly. RAMP offers practical advice for licensees operating restaurants, hotels, clubs, distributors, and even special occasion permit holders. Act 39 of 2016 requires that all alcohol service personnel must complete RAMP server/seller training within 6 months of being hired by a licensee, unless they have successfully completed the training prior to their hire. 

Alcohol service personnel is defined as any employee of a licensee such as a bartender, waiter, or door person whose primary responsibility is to ascertain the age of individuals who are attempting to enter the licensed premises. In the case of distributors, a salesperson whose primary responsibility includes the resale, furnishing or serving of liquor or malt or brewed beverages.

Any of your current employees considered alcohol service personnel who are not RAMP certified must be certified by February 8, 2017. 

Benefits to the licensee include:

• Possible reduction in the fines and penalties issued by the Administrative Law Judge to the licensee for serving a minor or a visibly intoxicated patron, so long as the licensee was in compliance with all parts of ACT 141 at the time of the violation and had no citations in the previous four years.
  
• Possible liquor liability insurance discount.
  
• Knowledgeable, responsible, well trained alcohol service staff and management.
  
• Recognition as a responsible licensee in your community.

RAMP helps you to:

• Detect signs of impairment and intoxication, and effectively cut off service to a customer who has had too much to drink.
  
• Identify underage individuals, and deter minors from coming into your establishment in the first place.
  
• Detect altered, counterfeit and borrowed identification.
  
• Avoid unnecessary liability.
  
• Help reduce alcohol-related problems (underage drinking, vehicle crashes, fights) in your community.

Getting RAMP Server/Seller Certified

You can now complete RAMP Server/Seller training via ServSafe Alcohol and receive a dual certification (RAMP/ServSafe Alcohol). PRLA members receive a 20 percent discount on all ServSafe products, including Alcohol.

ServSafe Alcohol