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

Governing Liquor Authority for the State of Ohio

Governing Liquor Authority for the state of Ohio:

• Ohio’s governing liquor authority is the Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control.
• The phone number for the Division of Liquor Control is: 614-644-2360.
• The website for the Division of Liquor Control is: www.com.ohio.gov/liqr/.

• The State Legislature is the body responsible for enacting the state’s alcohol laws.
• Ohio is considered a control state.

• Responsible alcohol service training is voluntary. Although not required, the Division of Liquor Control recommends that licensees keep a record of all employee training and certification. This will also be useful for documentation when trying to receive mitigating benefits.
• Posting of alcohol warning signs is not a state requirement. However, examples of underage warning signs are available from the Division of Liquor Control

Liquor License and Alcohol Beverage Laws for the State of Ohio

The Division of Liquor Control requires:

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

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

Licensees are prohibited from:

• Offering free drinks to customers.
• Offering two for the price of one drink specials.
• Offering unlimited drink service for a single price.
• Promoting any game that awards alcohol as a prize or encourages the consumption of alcohol.
• Offering happy hour specials after 9pm.

 The following are the general service hours for alcoholic beverages in the state of Ohio (local ordinances should always be consulted):

• On-Premise Establishments may sell and serve alcohol Monday – Saturday from 5:30am to 1am.  Nightclubs may remain open longer and sell alcohol till 2:30am. A permit is required for sales on Sunday and depending on local ordinances the times will be 10am, 11am or 1pm to midnight.
• Off-Premise licensees and retail stores may sell alcohol Monday – Saturday from 9am to 10pm. Sales on Sunday may start at 10am and must end either at 10pm or 1am.

Identification

Under Ohio law:

·         A licensee may accept the following types of ID:

o        Driver’s License

o        State ID Card 

·         The state does not regulate the confiscating of false IDs.

Laws Regarding Age

 Under Ohio law:

• A person must be at least 21 years old to purchase and consume alcohol.
• It is illegal to sell or serve alcohol to a minor.
• The legal age to be employed to pour alcohol is:

o        21 years of age for hard alcohol.

o        19 years of age for wine and beer.

• Minors who are 19 or 20 years of age may be employed to serve alcohol.
• Minors must be at least 18 years of age to sell packaged alcohol.

 Dram Shop Laws for the State of Ohio

Dram Shop Liability:

• There is only limited liability in Ohio. It is the building owners and those that rent from them who can be held liable if they knew that alcoholic beverages were being sold on the premises illegally. Additionally, the injury must have occurred on the premises or on the parking lot for the establishment.

ADDENDUM: OHIO’S DRAM SHOP LAW

§ 4399.02. Liability of owner and lessee of building or premises.

The owner of a building or premises, and the person renting or leasing them, if the owner or person knows that intoxicating liquors are to be sold in the building or premises in violation of law is severally or jointly liable with the person selling the intoxicating liquors for all damages sustained, as well as exemplary damages.

§ 4399.18. Limitations on liability for acts of intoxicated person.

Notwithstanding division (A) of section 2307.60 of the Revised Code and except as otherwise provided in this section, no person, and no executor or administrator of the person, who suffers personal injury, death, or property damage as a result of the actions of an intoxicated person has a cause of action against any liquor permit holder or an employee of a liquor permit holder who sold beer or intoxicating liquor to the intoxicated person unless the personal injury, death, or property damage occurred on the permit holder’s premises or in a parking lot under the control of the permit holder and was proximately caused by the negligence of the permit holder or an employee of the permit holder. A person has a cause of action against a permit holder or an employee of a permit holder for personal injury, death, or property damage caused by the negligent actions of an intoxicated person occurring off the premises or away from a parking lot under the permit holder’s control only when both of the following can be shown by a preponderance of the evidence: (A) The permit holder or an employee of the permit holder knowingly sold an intoxicating beverage to at least one of the following: (1) A noticeably intoxicated person in violation of division (B) of section 4301.22 of the Revised Code; (2) A person in violation of section 4301.69 of the Revised Code. (B) The person’s intoxication proximately caused the personal injury, death, or property damage. Notwithstanding sections 4399.02 and 4399.05 of the Revised Code, no person, and no executor or administrator of the person, who suffers personal injury, death, or property damage as a result of the actions of an intoxicated person has a cause of action against the owner of a building or premises who rents or leases the building or premises to a liquor permit holder against whom a cause of action may be brought under this section, except when the owner and the permit holder are the same person. HISTORY: 141 v H 759 (Eff 7-21-86); 146 v H 350 (Eff 1-27-97); 149 v S 108, § 2.01 (Eff 7-6-

2001); 149 v S 107. Eff 6-28-2002; 150 v H 306, § 1, eff. 7-23-04.