Do you want to enter the exciting world of bartending as a career? If that’s the case, you should get your BASSET certification. A program called BASSET (Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training) is also required for people who sell or serve alcoholic drinks in Illinois.
It will give you the skills and knowledge you need to do well as a bartender and show your employer and customers that you take your job as a responsible alcohol server seriously.
With BASSET certification, you’ll be on your way to a successful and satisfying career as a bartender. So why hold out? Read this post and see how you can get your BASSET certification in Illinois and what perks you can get!
BASSET Certification
BASSET stands for Beverage and Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training. In short, it’s a program that teaches people in Illinois who serve alcohol how to do so in a responsible way.
It will help you and each state reach its goal of preventing drunk driving and selling to minors. You also help make your community safer and better with a BASSET Certification.
What’s The Point of Having a BASSET Certification?
First, you must be taking the course if you’re going to serve alcohol. But it would also help you learn about the laws so that you don’t get sued since the Dram Shop Act is enforced in Illinois.
If it’s just a minor crime, you can be fined at about $2,500 and put in jail for a year. And if it’s a felony, you could spend a year or more in prison and pay a fine of about $25,000. Also, the ILCC has harsh penalties for serving alcohol to people under 21.
7 Benefits of Illinois BASSET Certification Card
Suppose you already have a card, so what are the perks of having it? Check out this advantage you can have for having the certification.
1. Complied With The Law
BASSET (Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training) certification ensures that people who sell or serve alcohol in Illinois know the state’s laws and rules about selling and serving alcohol.
2. Professional Recognition
BASSET certification is widely known and respected in Illinois’s food and beverage industry, making it a valuable addition to a professional resume.
3. Better Job Turnaround
People with BASSET certification know more about how to serve alcohol in a responsible way, which can lead to better job performance and a better customer experience.
4. Ideal Customer Service
BASSET-certified people know more about how alcohol affects people and can give better customer service by recognizing and dealing with potentially dangerous situations.
Customers are more likely to feel confident that the business is serious about responsibly serving alcohol if it has a BASSET certification.
5. Reduced Liability
If a person or business is BASSET-certified, they have been trained on how to serve alcohol responsibly, which reduces their liability in cases where alcohol is involved.
6. Access To Resources
People with a BASSET certification can use a network of resources and information, such as updates on new laws and regulations, to stay up-to-date in their field.
7. Career Advancement
BASSET certification can help you get new jobs and move up in your career because it shows you care about serving alcohol responsibly and have a professional attitude.
How Long Does the BASSET Certification Last?
Your BASSET certification is valid for 3 years after it is given to you. You’ll have to retake your training course after three years.
Do People in Illinois Need This?
Starting July 1, 2018, everyone who serves alcohol on the premises or checks ID cards for alcohol service must have BASSET training.
Also, many countries have training requirements for anyone who works in a place that sells or serves alcohol. Many employers want you to finish the training course to limit their liability.
TIPS vs. BASSET
BASSET and TIPS are different. The Illinois Liquor Control Commission runs the BASSET program, which has rules about how to serve and sell alcohol. TIPS is just a provider of alcohol training in Illinois approved by the state.
So, before the Illinois Liquor Control Commission sends you a BASSET card, you must take a 4-hour course from the approved provider on how to sell alcohol.
How To Use The Certification For a Job
If you want to get hired in the food industry in Illinois, obtaining your BASSET certification will make you more appealing to those potential employers because you’ll know the state’s laws and the best way to serve alcohol.
In the end, getting your BASSET certification is one of the essential things you can do to start a successful bartending career.
It will not only give you the skills and knowledge you need to do your job well, but it will also show that you take your job as a server of alcoholic drinks seriously. So, invest in your future today by getting your BASSET certification. You’ll be glad you did!
Feature photo by Michal Lizuch.
