Looking for an RBS class in California? With over 50 approved providers to choose from, it can feel overwhelming. But here’s what you should know – not all RBS classes are created equal, and some providers understand California’s hospitality scene better than others.
Three Types of RBS Class Providers in California
For many RBS class providers, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to find out who owns the company or even where they’re located. We’ve done the research so you don’t have to. Here’s what we found:
The National Conglomerates
Most RBS class providers fall into this category. They’re the big companies offering server training in every state from Alabama to Wyoming. Their courses tend to be generic and overly wordy, trying to fit every state’s requirements into one template. The result? You’ll find yourself wading through irrelevant content and confusing terminology instead of learning what you actually need to know for California service.
These corporate providers typically employ doctors and academics to write their content – people who’ve never actually served a drink or survived a Saturday night shift. This shows in their training, which often provides textbook definitions without real-world context.
The Tech Bros
In true Silicon Valley style, several RBS providers are IT professionals trying to capitalize on the mandatory training requirement established by Assembly Bill 1221. Their websites might look legit but lack personality – much like their courses (which, often feel like they were written by AI rather than actual servers).
You can spot these providers by their generic “Doing Business As” names that often:
- Start with a number, letter, or special character (to appear at the top of state alphabetical lists).
- Use “RBS Permit” or “RBS Training” at the start (to appear at the top of search engine results).
Their naming strategy clearly prioritizes course sales over creativity. Meanwhile, their courses lack original content, instead relying on embedded YouTube videos they didn’t create or recycling generic training materials that fail to reflect California’s unique hospitality culture.
The Industry Veterans (That’s Us!)
At Craft Serving, we’re actual bartenders who’ve served, managed, and trained staff in real establishments. We created our RBS class because we were tired of taking outdated, impractical courses ourselves. We understand that serving in California isn’t just about memorizing laws – it’s about applying them in real-world situations while crushing customer service.
With years of experience slinging drinks and running the pass, we approach RBS training both practically and empathetically. We don’t just tell you what not to do; we provide helpful tips on what you can do while serving alcohol responsibly in California’s unique environment, from crowded LA nightclubs to intimate wine tastings in Sonoma.
How to Choose the Perfect RBS Class for California Service
Let’s be honest – when the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) mandates something, it’s rarely exciting.
Since Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training became mandatory for all alcohol servers and managers in California as of July 1, 2022, many view it as just another bureaucratic hoop to jump through. Most people look for an RBS class that meets these basic criteria:
- The cheapest RBS class
- The fastest RBS class
- The easiest RBS class
We understand your priorities. That’s why our RBS class is affordable, streamlined, and user-friendly. But we encourage you to go one step further – consider your learning style when choosing an RBS class.
Reading vs. Listening
Many RBS providers in California use an audio-centric approach. On each page, students must click to activate an audio recording of a monotone narrator reciting the content.
We take a different approach. Our course incorporates various learning elements including graphics, interactive California-specific case studies, and visual aids.
While we use multiple teaching methods, our course is primarily text-based. There’s good reason for this:
Reading is an Act of Engagement
- Reading is faster than listening. The average adult reads 250-350 words per minute, while the ideal speaking pace is only 150-160 words per minute.
- Reading improves comprehension and retention. It requires focus that listening doesn’t – when reading, multitasking becomes difficult. If your mind wanders, it’s easy to go back to where you lost focus. Studies consistently show that students who read lessons score higher on comprehension tests than those who listen to the same material.
Additionally, we recognized specific drawbacks to audio-based methods for both new California servers and experienced professionals renewing their certification:
In courses with narrated content, students must wait for timed audio clips to finish before proceeding. This unnecessarily slows down experienced servers who are already familiar with California’s ABC laws. With our text-based approach, experienced servers can read at their own pace, allowing them to complete certification VERY QUICKLY.
Conversely, audio-based courses often oversimplify content due to time constraints. This disadvantages new servers who need context to understand how California’s unique alcohol laws apply in different settings.
Interactive Experience vs. Forced Timers
Ever notice how watching the clock makes time crawl? Taking an RBS class with timers on each page creates exactly that frustrating experience.
Most audio-based courses implement forced timers on every page. You’re stuck waiting for the recording to finish before you can continue, regardless of whether you’ve already grasped the material.
Our approach is different. Because our course uses truly interactive elements specific to California serving scenarios, we don’t need to lock you into arbitrary wait times. Instead, we’ve designed engaging activities that test your understanding of California ABC regulations and practical serving situations. This allows you to move at your own pace – quickly through familiar material and more deliberately through new concepts.
For most users, this creates a more positive, respectful learning experience that acknowledges your time is valuable while ensuring you truly understand the material necessary for responsible beverage service.
Why Choose Craft Serving’s RBS Class in California?
Beyond the reasons above, here are more compelling reasons to choose our RBS class:
1. We understand California!
While we have Pacific Northwest roots, we’ve developed a deep appreciation for California’s killer hospitality scene. We spend our winters in the Hi-Desert of Twentynine Palms, frequenting Más o Menos in Joshua Tree and enjoying the occasional laid-back Sunday brunch at Cheeky’s down the hill in Palm Springs.
Our adventures have taken us through the state’s diverse food and beverage scene – from innovative cocktail lounges in San Francisco to craft breweries in San Diego. California’s local establishments are the heart and soul of each community. Because we truly value this vibrant culture, we’re committed to raising the standard for responsible alcohol service throughout the Golden State.
2. We support California’s hospitality community
You’ll find us participating in industry events throughout California! We are passionate about staying connected to the community and particularly love supporting Bartender’s Weekend in San Diego and the Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival.
Our mission at Craft Serving is to advocate for California’s alcohol servers by connecting them with resources that help them thrive in the hospitality industry. We achieve this by staying current with California trends and supporting organizations that give back to food and beverage workers across the state, like Restaurants Care.
3. We listen to our California customers
Feedback drives our improvements! At the end of our course, we ask our California students to share their thoughts on how we can make the experience better.
We take every suggestion seriously. For example, when students reported delays in the certification process, we responded immediately.
We implemented an automated system that submits your training record to the ABC the moment you complete your course. If there’s a mismatch between the information you provided us and what’s on file with the ABC, you’ll receive an immediate email with a simple form and clear instructions to resolve it right away.
We Instantly Submit Your Training Record to the ABC!
This improvement eliminated the frustrating waiting period many students experienced with other providers and demonstrates our commitment to continually enhancing your experience based on real feedback.
4. Our course prepares you for California’s RBS exam
While our lesson quizzes reinforce important concepts, they also prepare you for the California ABC’s RBS exam. The state designs and provides the final exam questions, which we cannot modify.
We want our California students to pass their exam confidently, so we structure our practice quizzes to mirror the actual test. Some questions may seem ambiguous, but we provide detailed explanations that help clarify the rationale behind each answer according to California ABC regulations.
Making Your RBS Class Decision
When you’re ready to choose an RBS class, you’ll likely log into the ABC’s RBS portal and pull up the approved provider list. After clicking through a few options, they might all seem similar. How do you tell which one is right for you?
Remember, an outdated website usually means an outdated course. Typos on the site probably mean typos in the course. These details reflect the level of care taken by the RBS class provider.
If you chose the wrong course, you’ll notice these red flags:
RBS Class Red Flags for California Servers
- 🚩 The course uses cheesy examples that don’t reflect California’s hip hospitality scene
- 🚩 The course quizzes you on California ABC regulations before they’ve been explained
- 🚩 The course presents California laws in legal jargon without practical explanation
- 🚩 The content is too vague to be useful in real California serving situations
- 🚩 The course randomly lists rules without context just to check them off the ABC’s list
- 🚩 The course uses terminology from other states – like “Liquor Control Board (LCB)” instead of “Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)”
Ready to Level Up Your Service Game?
Don’t waste time with generic corporate training or untested startup platforms. Choose an RBS class created by industry professionals who understand what you actually need to know.
Start Your RBS Training Today!
Want to learn more? Check out our other California RBS resources:
How to Get RBS Certified in California
