HALIFAX — The government of Nova Scotia, through the Minister of Service Nova Scotia, has announced that all servers at licensed establishments will need to complete a responsible alcohol service course by Dec. 1, 2024. This brings Nova Scotia in line with similar requirements in P.E.I. and New Brunswick.
Across Canada, the industry is broadly supportive of responsible beverage-alcohol service training, and many operators already make this training a prerequisite for employment.
However, this action was taken with virtually no consultation with either Restaurants Canada or the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia, so many questions remain unanswered.
Restaurants Canada has sent a letter to the Minister asking if alternative or out-of-province training courses will be certified, if a costing analysis was completed by government to understand the regulatory burden to the industry, and if there will be administrative or other penalties imposed if an operator is found not to be in compliance.
Currently, there’s one course certified by Service Nova Scotia’s Alcohol Gaming Division, Serve Right, a course offered through the Nova Scotia Tourism Human Resources Council at a cost of $35 per server and $50 per manager.
Restaurants Canada has made a request for an extension to the deadline to June 2025 to provide for a smoother transition as it may be difficult to get everyone trained during the fall staffing transitions. The organization has also asked for a meeting with Service Nova Scotia staff to get a better understanding of the implications of this regulatory change.
