Utah has some of the most highly regulated alcohol laws in the country, and the state takes mandatory server and seller training very seriously. If you have just been hired for a job that involves handling alcohol, you might be looking at a list of requirements and feeling confused.
The most common point of confusion is the difference between Off-Premise and On-Premise training. If you take the wrong course, your employer cannot legally let you run the register. Here is exactly how to determine which certification you need.
The Golden Rule: Where Is the Alcohol Being Consumed?
The core difference between the two permits lies in where the customer will drink the beverage.
The Utah EASY Off-Premise Certification
This permit is required if the customer is buying the alcohol to take off the premises.
- The Workplace: Grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and specialty retail shops.
- The Product: Sealed containers of beer or heavy beer/seltzer.
- The Job Role: You are acting as a cashier or clerk—scanning a barcode, bagging sealed cans or bottles, and processing payment.
- Age Requirements: In Utah, you can be 16 years old to sell beer for off-premise consumption, provided your sales are directly supervised by an employee who is at least 21 years old and also EASY certified.
The On-Premise Certification (Sips and Tips)
This permit is required if the customer is consuming the alcohol on the property.
- The Workplace: Bars, restaurants, taverns, and event venues.
- The Product: Open containers, mixed drinks, draft beer, and poured wine.
- The Job Role: You are a bartender, server, or manager taking orders, mixing drinks, and monitoring a customer’s consumption over time.
Why the Distinction Matters
The off-premise course skips the rules about pouring limits and focuses heavily on point-of-sale refusal skills, fast-paced ID checking in a checkout lane, and dealing with third-party buyers (e.g., an adult buying beer for a minor waiting in the parking lot).
If you are a cashier or retail clerk, the off-premise course is the only one you need.
Make sure you get the right training today. Take the Dash Authority EASY Off Premise course now, the price is only $14.95.
