The Official AIFS

Responsible Service of Alcohol Course

Required for all persons working with alcohol, this training informs you of your legal responsibilities regarding the safe and responsible service of alcohol and how to minimise harm.
In Australia, anyone who serves or sells alcohol needs to be trained in the responsible service of alcoholic beverages.When you study online with AIFS you will:
  • Gain skills recognised Australia-wide (excluding VIC, NSW and TAS)
  • Complete your course faster
  • Get the support you need
  • Save time and hassle with our easy Virtual Video Assessment process
Responsible Service of Alcohol Course
for-job-seekers-icon-Study online, whenever you want

Study online, whenever you want

Enjoy the convenience of doing your training anywhere, at any time of the day or night.
for-job-seekers-icon-Finish in a few hours, or take your time

Finish in a few hours, or take your time

Complete your alcohol service training in just a few hours, or take up to 12 months.
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Receive your documents fast

If you need them faster, add Express Certification to your order during checkout. Learn More
for-job-seekers-icon-Get the support you need

Get the support you need

Our qualified trainers and assessors are here to provide the support you need when you need it.
for-job-seekers-icon-Recognised in many states

Recognised in many states

Be sure of acceptance with a course that's recognised Australia-wide (excluding Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania).
for-job-seekers-icon-Save time with a Virtual Video Assessment

Save time with a Virtual Video Assessment

No need to nominate Observers or simulate a workplace for your assessment - a camera and microphone are all you need.

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Course Outline

Develop a solid understanding of safe alcohol service
When you enrol in the official AIFS Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) Course, you have access to everything you need to gain a solid understanding of your legal responsibilities regarding the safe and responsible service of alcohol as well as how to minimise harm.With AIFS there are:
  • No hidden prerequisites
  • No hidden assessment requirements
  • No hidden fees or charges
Immediate StartAs soon as you sign up, you have instant access to your course. As the entire training takes around 3-4 hours, some students sign up and complete the course on the same day. If you prefer to take your time, we allow 12 months to complete the course and you can start and stop as often as you like.Training recognised in many statesAIFS is a Registered Training Organisation that's approved to deliver Responsible Service of Alcohol training in Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Be confident knowing that your AIFS qualification is compliant and will be recognised in those states.
COURSE OUTLINE
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The course is split up into 16 lessons, two case studies, one reading activity, and an Observer Report or Video Assessment.The lessons in the course are:
  • Lesson 1 - Social Impacts of Alcohol & RSA Responsibilities
  • Lesson 2 - Impacts of Alcohol on the Body
  • Lesson 3 - BAC
  • Lesson 4 - Standard Drink Measurements
  • Lesson 5 - Signs of Intoxication
  • Lesson 6 - Duty of Care & Harm Minimisation
  • Lesson 7 - Myths About Sobering Up
  • Lesson 8 - Alcohol Laws in Australia
  • Lesson 9 - Enforcement of Alcohol Laws
  • Lesson 10 - Acceptable IDs
  • Lesson 11 - Minors & Proof of Age
  • Lesson 12 - Verifying IDs
  • Lesson 13 - When to Stop Service
  • Lesson 14 - How to Stop Service
  • Lesson 15 - Getting Customers Home Safely
  • Lesson 16 - Organisational Policies & Procedures
QuizzesAt the end of each lesson, there is a multiple choice quiz. You have five attempts at each quiz and must score 100% to move onto the next lesson. If you don't pass the quiz after five attempts, simply get in touch and we'll help you progress to the next section.Case StudiesAfter you've completed all the lessons, there are two short case studies. To complete these, you'll read a short scenario and then answer a multiple choice quiz, which is similar to the quizzes you've already completed at the end of the lessons.Reading ActivityAfter you've completed the case studies, there is a reading activity that covers in-house policies and procedures. To complete this, you'll read a few in-house policies and then answer a multiple choice quiz, which is similar to the quizzes you've already completed at the end of the lessons and case studies.Virtual Video Assessment or Observer ReportIn order to comply with the government requirements for Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training, you need to demonstrate that you can perform certain tasks correctly. To complete this practical component, and depending on your work status in the industry, there are two options: a Virtual Video Assessment or an Observer Report.
  1. Record a Virtual Video Assessment. To do so, you'll need a mobile device, laptop or desktop computer with a webcam and microphone. You will receive an email with instructions on how to use our interactive tool to record and submit. You can complete the video assessment at any point during the course, but we highly recommend that you do so after completing all lessons, and quizzes to ensure you understand the requirements of the assessment.
  2. Submit an Observer Report. If you've been working in the industry and serving alcohol to customers within the last 12 months, you can nominate an Observer to report on your skills. Your Observer will need to complete the form provided.
One of our qualified assessors will assess the report or video and provide your results.Quality Assurance ProcessAs part of our quality assurance process, we reserve the right to contact you or your nominated observer to conduct a competency conversation or verification of assessment prior to awarding certification.
There are no training prerequisites for this course - you can simply enrol and get started.Language, Literacy and NumeracyWhilst there are no training prerequisites, there are some requirements around language, literacy and numeracy. In order to complete this course you should be able to perform everyday tasks such as:
  • Reading and responding to online postings in chat rooms
  • Reviewing and discussing news items with others
  • Following a recipe
If you have any concerns about the skills required to participate in this course, please contact us and we'll be happy to discuss your situation.
You need to make sure that you have the following in order to be able to complete the Responsible Service of Alcohol Course:1. A modern web browserAt AIFS we use some of the latest eLearning technologies to deliver the courses. You will need to have a modern web browser to view and complete the course (Google Chrome is recommended), and it's important that you have Javascript enabled.2. An email addressDuring the registration process, we will ask you for your email address. This is a mandatory requirement for you to be able to access our systems. Email addresses cannot be shared by students.3. Adobe PDF Reader or Adobe AcrobatSome of the forms that you need to complete (such as the Observer Report) are in PDF format. Ensure that you have the latest version of Adobe PDF Reader. AIFS courses work on most computers, laptops, tablets and mobile devices.4. For Virtual Video Assessment only: A device with a webcam and microphoneIf you are submitting a Video Assessment rather than an Observer Report, you will need a device with an enabled webcam and microphone to take the video.

Be Trained for Your Industry Sector

Develop expert skills with sector-specific Alcohol Server training
Hospitality
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Hospitality businesses prepare and serve alcoholic beverages for customers to consume on the premises.The unit of competency awarded for the course is:SITHFAB021 - Provide responsible service of alcohol
Training for the hospitality sectorIndustry-specific alcohol server training is offered for the Hospitality sector.When you complete the AIFS Responsible Service of Alcohol Course, you'll receive a Statement of Attainment.This lists the unit of competency you've attained.

What is an Alcohol Server?

Understand your responsibilities and legal requirements
An alcohol server is someone who takes orders for alcohol beverages, pours or serves alcoholic beverages in an establishment licenced to serve alcohol.Alcohol servers are required to:
  • Have basic knowledge of alcohol service
  • Be skilled in the tasks for which they are responsible for
  • Understand the laws specific to their job
Anyone who serves alcohol is considered an alcohol server and requires Responsible Service of Alcohol Training.
Eligibility
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Anyone can enrol in the AIFS Responsible Service of Alcohol Course (RSA). There are no prerequisites and no prior alcohol service experience or knowledge is required.Proper alcohol service training is a state requirement. Whether you're just starting out or are an experienced server, with RSA training you'll be able to:
  • Meet the state requirement
  • Attain nationally recognised training
  • Develop safe alcohol service skills
A Statement of Attainment is a document (like a certificate) that is issued to a student who has completed a nationally recognised training course.Once you've successfully completed the AIFS Responsible Service of Alcohol Course, you will receive a valid Statement of Attainment, containing the unit of competency, indicating that you're qualified to work in all places where alcohol is served or sold.
As a Registered Training Organisation, the Australian Institute of Food Safety has been approved to deliver alcohol service training in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory.This means that when you train with AIFS, you can feel secure knowing your qualification is compliant and will be accepted by local councils.

Common Questions

Learn more about what our students ask about this course
How long does the course take to complete?The online lessons, multiple-choice quizzes and case studies in this course take most people around three to four hours to complete.
How do I enrol in the course?That's easy! Simply click on the blue 'Start Online Now' button on this page and follow the prompts. You'll be enrolled and ready to start in just a few minutes.
When will I get my Statement of Attainment?Our assessors work full-time Monday to Friday and often process your Statement of Attainment within a few days of students completing the course.
Do I need to go somewhere for an exam?No, you don't need to go anywhere for an exam. You can complete the entire course within the comfort of your own home and workplace, at a time that suits you.
Will I need to nominate an Observer or do I need special equipment to complete my assessment?No, our new Virtual Video Assessment helps streamline the entire process for you!