Who has the legal authority and duty to refuse service of alcohol to a customer who appears obviously intoxicated?
Explanation
Every server, bartender, manager, and any employee involved in alcohol service has both the legal authority and the affirmative duty under §25602 to refuse service to obviously intoxicated patrons. RBS training (Title 4 CCR §165) explicitly empowers individual servers to make this call. The licensee is responsible for the establishment, but front-line staff carry personal criminal exposure for each sale. Police presence (a) is not required, and customer companions (b) have no legal duty.
Law Reference: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §25602; Title 4 CCR §165This topic, taught in full in the California RBS (Responsible Beverage Service) guide. California RBS — Responsible Beverage Service Study Guide (2026) — PDF + EPUB, $9.99 · 14-day refund →
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