Senator Dave Min Announces Korean Language Access for Mandatory Beverage Service Training
LOS ANGELES, CA — Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) and Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) joined the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) today in announcing the new Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training Program will soon offer testing in additional languages beyond the initial English and Spanish offerings. Senator Min has been working in coordination with ABC to ensure those who must take the RBS test have access to the mandated state Training Program that provides education to on-premise alcohol beverage serving employees about the dangers of serving alcohol to minors and about the over serving alcohol to patrons. Tests will be offered in Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Hindi and Punjabi.
“I am proud to announce that the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is dramatically expanding language access for the state mandated Responsible Beverage Service testing requirement,” Senator Min said. “California is home to the largest population of Asian American and Pacific Islander population in the country, and our public services should reflect the diversity of our state. I want to thank ABC Director Eric Hirata for his leadership in ensuring that this new law is inclusive and fair for the many thousands of businesses who rely on employees who speak Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Hindi, and Punjabi.”
“Responsible Beverage Service Training gives alcohol servers the knowledge and skills to help serve alcohol responsibly,” said ABC Director Eric Hirata. “This training program will help prevent underage drinking and alcohol-related traffic collisions throughout the state, and can make communities safer for all Californians.”
“It is imperative that we provide testing in as many languages as possible about the consequences of serving alcohol to minors,” said Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles). “Currently, testing is only offered in English and Spanish but we now aim to expand access to the testing by conducting it in Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Hindi and Punjabi. As the Chair of the Governmental Organization committee and representative of the largest Korean population outside of South Korea, I am committed to ensuring this law is implemented.”
###