Welcome to BASSET On Premises.
As a server of alcohol, you have an important job. You are expected to balance the needs of your guests with the expectations of your managers and the requirements of the law. That is a lot to do!
BASSET can help you! BASSET stands for Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training, a program used by the State of Illinois for responsible beverage seller/server training.
The BASSET program trains and educates you for responsible alcohol service including spotting signs of intoxication, utilizing various intervention techniques, preventing DUI and alcohol-related deaths, and stopping underage sales and drinking. This allows for safer communities and alcohol establishments. The program also educates owners, managers, and staff on dram shop insurance, state laws, and local ordinances that pertain to the service of alcoholic beverages. This course is designed to build on your existing skills as a server of alcohol to prevent intoxication, drunk driving, and underage drinking. You will learn strategies and skills that can help you balance providing excellent customer service with ensuring only legal alcohol sales.
All on-premises alcohol servers and individuals required to check ID for alcohol service must take BASSET.
BASSET certification is valid for three years, and employees are responsible for renewing their certification before it expires. Working without valid BASSET certification can result in violations for both the employee and the licensed business. Employees should notify management if their certification is expired or cannot be located.
Beginning in 2026, the Illinois Liquor Control Commission is transitioning to a paperless compliance system, meaning licenses, renewals, and official communications will increasingly be handled through an online portal. While employees are not responsible for managing licenses, they are still responsible for following workplace policies and ensuring your required BASSET training certificate remains current.
By completing this course, you will gain the knowledge and tools needed to meet Illinois requirements, protect public safety, and perform your role responsibly and professionally.
In this course, you will learn to:
- The definition of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
- How BAC levels relate to body weight, gender, and the amount of alcohol consumed per hour
- Recognize common warning signs of alcohol use disorder or alcoholism
- The effects of alcohol and drugs on driving performance
- Recognize signs of an opioid overdose and alcohol's role in overdose risk
- Describe when and how naloxone should be used in an emergency
- How to assure customer safety
- Identify common warning signs of human trafficking and describe appropriate steps for reporting concerns
- Visual and behavior clues to help you recognize potential problems
- How to slow service and refuse service
- About designated driver programs
- Alternative, non-alcoholic beverages
- Ways to maintain a professional demeanor
- Laws pertaining to the sale of alcohol and the penalties they carry
- The differences between civil and criminal charges
- Illinois DUI laws and associated penalties
- Secretary of States procedures to ensure security of driver’s licenses and state ID cards
- Other acceptable forms of identification
- Explain when Mobile IDs may or may not be accepted for alcohol service
- Enhanced identification techniques
- How to properly utilize municipal support services (police, fire, and paramedics)
- What is vicarious and third-party liability
- State insurance requirements
- Legal terms used in litigation
- Procedures for protection against possible litigation
The course is broken down into five main areas:
- Physical properties of alcohol, drugs, and alcoholism
- Prevention and intervention techniques
- Illinois state statutes, local ordinances, and DUI laws
- Proper identification techniques, police policies, and expectations
- Dram shop liabilities, insurance, and victims’ rights
You will also be given a pre-test and a post-test to assess your increase in knowledge in the curriculum areas.
