Here’s an important fact by way of our good friends at TABC.gov. Your TABC certification is not required by law. How about another fun fact? It’s not likely that you will get work in the service industry without it. Why?
The quick answer here is that reputable employers in the industry will require it even if the law does not. The law simply suggests that people who are engaged in the sale, service or delivery of alcoholic beverages and their immediate managers should have this certification. Technically, it’s up to the employer. It may be obvious that front-of-house would benefit from TABC training, but would roles with job requirements in the back of house also benefit from a TABC certification?
Back-of-House Jobs That Might Call for TABC Certification
As mentioned, immediate managers should and likely would need the TABC certification. The job of the manager is to oversee all functions of the business including both back and front of house. As the overseer of the FOH, the manager would need to be trained as those employees are trained so that he or she is capable of fully understanding their responsibilities.
This might not include the kitchen manager who is directly responsible for all back-of-house operations where the sale, service or delivery of alcohol is not typically relevant to the job at hand. Examples of back-of-house workers include chefs, line cooks, expeditors and dishwashers. It’s clear that most of these jobs are not related to alcohol sales or consumption but it’s possible that one of these roles might be singled out.
After all, the finer restaurants often present a more exquisite menu, one that calls for the inclusion of alcohol in the actual cooking of the meal. Maybe your favorite establishment features Bloody Mary Soup or Penne alla Vodka. Pork Medallions with Brandy Cream Sauce available sounds like a tasty treat.
These are unique dishes that call for a splash of alcohol and while it’s only a splash, that’s just enough to put the chef under the umbrella of responsibility when it comes to the ‘service’ or ‘delivery’ of alcohol. Again, this is not really a matter of legality. It’s entirely up to the employer of the establishment.
Cross Training and Migration
There’s also the matter of cross training. Service industry managers often prefer employees on both sides of the house to know how each side operates. This allows for more flexibility if, for example, the front-of-house has a bartender who is called away because of an emergency or illness. This way, a back-of-house employee is available to fill that slot as needed. Under these conditions then, yes, management would very likely prefer for those BOH workers to be TABC certified.
There is also the matter of migration. Simply put, a back-of-house worker might wish to be more involved in FOH operations. In this case, it would behoove the said worker to voluntarily step up and acquire his or her TABC certification.
Either way, acquiring your TABC certification is quick and easy and very affordable. It can be done within a matter of hours and your certificate will be immediately available to download and print. Wherever you land in the service industry, it’s best to be prepared for all possibilities. With your TABC certification in hand, you’re sending the message that you are prepared and welcome those possibilities. For BOH staff, you may wish to also enroll in our TABC certification course + food handler course.
