This is a supplement to the training materials presented in the Affordable Alcohol Training Responsible Beverage Service Education Program and must be reviewed. 

Colorado’s Governing Liquor Authority

Colorado’s Governing Liquor Authority:

• The State of Colorado’s governing liquor authority is the Department of Revenue, Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement Division.
• The phone number for the Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement Division is: 303-205-2300.
• The website for the Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement Division is: http://www.revenue.state.co.us/Liquor_dir/home.asp

• Colorado’s Legislature is the body responsible for enacting the state’s alcohol laws.

• Responsible alcohol service training is voluntary.
• Posting of alcohol warning signs is not a state requirement. Local ordinances should be consulted.

Liquor License and Alcohol Beverage Laws for the State of Colorado

Colorado’s Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement Division requires:

• Licensees to uphold all the liquor laws for the state of Colorado.

• Licensees to also be knowledgeable of and abide by any local ordinances as well.

Under Colorado’s Alcohol Laws:

• There are no specific laws regarding Happy Hour.
• No distinction is made between the terms “happy hour,” “drink specials” or “drink promotions.”
• Licensees may provide a combination of food and drink for a special price.

Colorado’s Responsible Vendor Program

To qualify as a Responsible Vendor in the state of Colorado, licensees must meet the following conditions:

• All managers, employees, as well as any on-site owners who sell or serve alcohol must attend training.
• All new hires must complete the required training within 60 days.
• Re-certification of all employees must occur every 2 years.
• Training must occur for at least a four hour time period.
• Written documentation must be maintained on program attendance regarding each attendee.
• Those attending the training must be tested on their knowledge of the material covered.
• Those attending the training must be given surveys that they may answer on the effectiveness of the training.
• Any verbal feedback that is received from those attending the training must be documented.

Identification

Acceptable forms of identification in Colorado are:

• Drivers License (50 states, Canada, Mexico, US territory)
• ID Card with photo (50 states)
• Passport
• Alien Registration Card
• Military ID
• Employment card issued by the Immigration & Naturalization Service that is valid and shows a photo and date of birth

Under Colorado’s laws:

·         A person may be served alcohol even if they do not have any identification with them.

·         Licensed establishments are allowed to seize any ID that they believe to be false. It is recommended though that they contact the Department of Revenue, Liquor Enforcement Division and/or local law enforcement for additional requirements and information.

Colorado’s Laws Regarding Age

Under Colorado law:

• A person must be at least 21 years old to purchase and consume alcohol.
• A minor may be employed to serve or pour alcohol if they are under the supervision of someone who is at least 21 years of age or older.
• Minors are allowed on the premises of any licensed establishment unless the establishment’s house rules prohibit it.

• A minor may consume alcohol in a private residence when they are with a parent or legal guardian.

• It is illegal to sell alcohol to a minor and doing so can result in a Class 2 Misdemeanor charge.

Dram Shop Laws for the State of Colorado

Dram Shop Liability:

• Licensees and their employees are only held civilly liable if they knowingly served a minor or intoxicated guest who then caused injury or damage to others.
• Social hosts, such as parents, are only held civilly liable if they knowingly provided a place to minors where they could consume alcohol or knowingly provided the alcohol itself. If a civil lawsuit is filed against the social host, then:

o        The lawsuit must be brought within one year of the incident.

o        $150,000.00 is the maximum judgment allowed.

• Culinary schools and instructors at those schools are not held civilly liable for any unauthorized consumption on the part of students who are still minors.

ADDENDUM: COLORADO’S DRAM SHOP LAW

12-47-801.          Civil liability - legislative declaration. 

(1) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this section shall be interpreted so that any common law cause of action against a vendor of alcohol beverages is abolished and that in certain cases the consumption of alcohol beverages rather than the sale, service, or provision thereof is the proximate cause of injuries or damages inflicted upon another by an intoxicated person except as otherwise provided in this section.

(2) As used in this section, "licensee" means a person licensed under the provisions of this article or article 46 or 48 of this title and the agents or servants of such person.

(3) (a) No licensee is civilly liable to any injured individual or his or her estate for any injury to                                                                                such individual or damage to any property suffered because of the intoxication of any person due to the sale or service of any alcohol beverage to such person, except when:

(I) It is proven that the licensee willfully and knowingly sold or served any alcohol beverage to such person who was under the age of twenty-one years or who was visibly intoxicated; and

(II) The civil action is commenced within one year after such sale or service.

     (b) No civil action may be brought pursuant to this subsection (3) by the person to whom the alcohol beverage was sold or served or by his or her estate, legal guardian, or dependent.

     (c) In any civil action brought pursuant to this subsection (3), the total liability in any such action shall not exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars.

(4) (a) No social host who furnishes any alcohol beverage is civilly liable to any injured individual or his or her estate for any injury to such individual or damage to any property suffered, including any action for wrongful death, because of the intoxication of any person due to the consumption of such alcohol beverages, except when:

(I) It is proven that the social host knowingly served any alcohol beverage to such person who was under the age of twenty-one years or knowingly provided the person under the age of twenty-one a place to consume an alcoholic beverage; and 

(II) The civil action is commenced within one year after such service.

     (b) No civil action may be brought pursuant to this subsection (4) by the person to whom such alcohol beverage was served or by his or her estate, legal guardian, or dependent.

     (c) The total liability in any such action shall not exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars.

(4.5) An instructor or entity that complies with section 18-13-122(3)(c), C.R.S. shall not be liable for civil damages resulting from the intoxication of a minor due to the minor's unauthorized consumption of alcohol beverages during instruction in culinary arts, food service, or restaurant management pursuant to section 18-13-122(3)(c), C.R.S. 

(5) (a) The limitations on damages set forth in paragraph (c) of subsection (3) and paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of this section shall be adjusted for inflation as of January 1, 1998. The adjustment made on January 1, 1998, shall be based on the cumulative annual adjustment for inflation for each year since the effective date of the damages limitations of paragraph (c) of subsection (3) and paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of this section. The adjustment made pursuant to this paragraph (a) shall be rounded upward or downward to the nearest ten-dollar increment.

     (b) As used in this subsection (5), "inflation" means the annual percentage change in the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, consumer price index for Denver-Boulder, al items, all urban consumers, or its successor index.

     (c) The secretary of state shall certify the adjusted limitation on damages within fourteen days after the appropriate information is available, and such adjusted limitation on damages shall be the limitation applicable to all claims for relief that accrue on or after January 1, 1998.