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The deadline for South Carolina’s required alcohol server training has been extended.
Servers and managers who have not yet completed an approved alcohol server training program now have until May 1, 2026 to comply with state law.
The extension was approved by the South CarLearolina General Assembly on March 4 through Joint Resolution 5261 and signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster on March 9.
Who must complete the training
Training is required for individuals who:
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Work 10 or more hours per week serving alcohol for on-premises consumption, or
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Are managers who oversee alcohol service
A list of approved training programs is available at dor.sc.gov/abl-server-training
Certification requirements
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After completing training, alcohol server certificates are typically available for download within two weeks at dor.sc.gov/AlcoholServerCertificate.
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Servers must keep a digital or physical copy of their certificate while serving alcohol.
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Businesses must maintain a copy of each server’s certificate on-site for the duration of that employee’s employment.
Penalties for noncompliance
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$500 per violation for allowing someone to serve alcohol without completing an approved training program
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$100 per violation for failing to maintain or produce a server’s certificate
According to the South Carolina Department of Revenue, more than 39,000 alcohol server certificates had been issued statewide as of March 9.
Businesses that serve alcohol are encouraged to ensure their staff complete training before the May 1 deadline to remain in compliance with state law.
SCRLA provided a step-by-step guide to certification through their preferred provider, ServSafe, and offers special pricing to help South Carolina’s hospitality industry reach full compliance by the May 1 deadline.
SCRLA Member Discount: As a benefit of membership, you receive a 15% discount on all ServSafe products every day. Read the instructions to link your ServSafe profile to your SCRLA membership to apply this automatically.
Reminder for hospitality businesses: SCRLA membership is included in your investment with Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce!
Special Industry Coupon: To support the broader community, there is a limited-time coupon providing a 15% discount with code SSASC15.
Please Note: Discounts cannot be “stacked.” The code cannot be combined with the automatic member discount.