The Honolulu Liquor Commission

Server-Training

(for Managers, Assistant Managers and Bartenders)

Study Guide

Pacific Park Plaza

711 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 600

Honolulu, HI 96813

Phone: (808)768-7300

Fax: (808)768-7311

Website: www.honolulu.gov/liq

Rev. 09/06/14

Table of Contents

About

Us……………………………………………………………………………………….. 1

Alcohol

Overview…………………………………………………………………….………. 2

Study

Guide…………………………………………………………………………………. . 6

I. Introduction…………………………………………………………… 6

II. Liquor Laws of Hawaii & Rules of the Liquor

Commission Booklet…………………….……………………….. 6

III. Registration of Employees……………………………………… 8

IV. Managers, Assistant Managers and Bartenders……. 11

V. Licensee/Employee Conduct………………………………… 14

VI. Enforcement………………………………………………………… 17

VII. Improper Influence………………………………………………. 21

VIII. Licensee Requirements……………………………………….. 21

IX. Licensee Display Requirements……………………………. 23

X. Dangers of Driving While Intoxicated…………………… 26

XI. Identifying and Dealing with Intoxicated Persons… 27

Addendum to Server Training Study Guide…………….…………. 29

Select Laws and Rules in their entirety as discussed in

Server-Training

About Us

The Honolulu Liquor Commission

Our Mission: To promote our community’s health, safety,

and welfare by efficiently and fairly administering and

enforcing Hawaii’s liquor laws.

The Honolulu Liquor Commission (HLC), authorized by

Chapter 281 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes employs

licensing, training, auditing, enforcement and administrative

personnel to meet the mission objectives of the agency.

HLC works to keep our communities safer by regulating the

sale and service of liquor. HLC offers training to Licensees,

Managers, Bartenders and others who serve liquor to provide

education on the Liquor Laws of the State of Hawaii and the

Rules of the City and County of Honolulu Liquor Commission.

There are five (5) citizen commissioners who set policy for the

HLC. They meet weekly to make decisions on liquor licenses

and case hearings. Commissioners are appointed by the

Mayor and are subject to City Council confirmation.

Alcohol Overview

What is alcohol? Alcohol is a colorless, volatile flammable

liquid that is the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer,

spirits, and other drinks, and is also used as an industrial

solvent as fuel. Liquor contains one-half of one percent or

more of alcohol by volume used for beverage purposes.

The following information regarding alcohol is taken from the

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Additional

information can be found on www.niaaa.nih.gov

Overview of Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol’s effects vary from person to person, depending on a

variety of factors, including:

 How much you drink

 How often you drink

 Your age

 Your health status

 Your family history

 Size of a person

 Gender

Drinking alcohol in small amounts may not necessarily be a

problem. Drinking alcohol in excess may cause a range of

consequences and potential health risks.

Consequences of drinking too much

Alcohol enters your bloodstream as soon as you take your

first sip. Alcohol’s immediate effects can appear within about

10 minutes. As you drink, you increase your Blood Alcohol

Concentration (BAC) level, which is the amount of alcohol

present in your bloodstream. A BAC of .08% is considered

legal intoxication in the State of Hawaii.

The higher your BAC, the more impaired you become by

alcohol’s effects. These effects can include:

 Reduced inhibitions

 Slurred speech

 Motor impairment

 Confusion

 Memory problems

 Concentration problems

 Coma

 Breathing problems

 Death

Other risks of drinking can include:

 Car crashes and other accidents

 Risky behavior

 Violent behavior

 Suicide and homicide

People who drink too much over a long period of time may

experience alcohol’s longer-term effects, which can include:

 Alcohol dependence, addiction

 Health problems

 Increased risk for certain cancers

How does alcohol affect the human body?

Brain: Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication

pathways, and can affect the way the brain (looks and) works.

These disruptions can change mood and behavior, and make

it harder to think clearly and move with coordination.

Heart: Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single

occasion can damage the heart, causing problems including:

 Cardiomyopathy – Stretching and drooping of heart

muscle

 Arrhythmias – Irregular heart beat

 Stroke

 High blood pressure

Liver: Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver, and can lead to

a variety of problems and liver inflammations including:

 Steatosis, or fatty liver

 Alcoholic hepatitis

 Fibrosis and Cirrhosis

Pancreas: Alcohol may cause the pancreas to produce toxic

substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a

dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in

the pancreas that prevents proper digestion.

Cancer: Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of

developing certain cancers, including cancers of the:

 Mouth

 Esophagus

 Throat

 Liver

 Breast

Immune System: Drinking in excess can weaken your

immune system, making your body a much easier target for

disease. Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases

like pneumonia and tuberculosis than other people who do

not drink heavily. Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows

your body’s ability to ward off infections – even up to 24

hours after being intoxicated.

Study Guide

I. Introduction

The Server-Training Study Guide will help prepare you for the

required Honolulu Liquor Commission Manager/Assistant

Manager and Bartender Server-Training course. It is a

requirement for all employees to be familiar with the Liquor

Laws of Hawaii and the Rules of the Liquor Commission. This

study guide will focus some important laws and rules that

may impact you while on the job.

After reading the provided information, you will gain

understanding in the following areas:

1. Identifying and dealing with intoxicated persons,

2. Reviewing liquor laws and rules, and

3. Dangers of driving while intoxicated

II. Liquor Laws of Hawaii and Rules of the Liquor

Commission (booklet)

 All employees must be familiar with the Liquor Laws of

Hawaii and the Rules of the Liquor Commission

§3-82-38.1.

 Every licensee (except special licenses, transient vessel

per day, and caterer) shall have a current copy of the

statutes relating to intoxicating liquor and the rules of

the Commission in English available at all times on the

licensed premises. Customers shall be entitled to

examine the statutes and rules upon request and

employees must know where the booklet is located.

§3-82-38.2.

 Chapter 281 of the Hawaii Revised Statues (HRS) consists

of the Hawaii State Liquor Laws identified by §281.

 Honolulu Liquor Commission Rules are identified by §3.

 Updated HRS and Rule Amendments implemented on

Sept. 1, 2014 may be obtained from our website at

www.honolulu.gov/liq

Throughout this study guide, we will refer to the State Laws

from Chapter 281 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes and the

Honolulu Liquor Commission Rules. Please refer to the Liquor

Laws of Hawaii & Rules of the Liquor Commission (currently, a

yellow booklet) for the complete text of the law and/or rule

being discussed. The laws and rules are listed numerically in

separate sections of the booklet.

The laws and rules are also available on our website at

www.honolulu.gov/liq

III. Registration of Employees

Anyone applying for their Certificate of Registration (liquor

card) must provide the following:

1) Valid government issued photo ID (driver’s license,

state ID, military ID, passport, etc.);

2) Proof of Social Security Number (Social Security Card

or Original W-2);

3) Tuberculosis (TB) clearance report (with a negative

reading less than 10 mm);

4) Required for Managers and Assistant Managers only -

A letter from the employer certifying that the applicant

will be or is a manager of the licensed premises.

 If you have previously obtained a Honolulu Liquor

Commission Certificate of Registration (liquor card), you

may only be required to provide the following:

 Valid government issued photo ID (driver’s license,

state ID, military ID, passport, etc.);

 Manager/Assistant Manager letter certifying that the

applicant will be or is a manager of the licensed

premises.

 Certificates of Registration (liquor cards) are only valid

for the licensed premises for which the employee

registers and the license number of the premises.

Restaurants, dispensers (bars), hotels, cabarets, and

other liquor establishments with multiple locations

require separate liquor cards for each licensed premises

§3-82-38.5(b).

 Retail Store licensees require only one (1) Certificate of

Registration (liquor card) for multiple locations of the

same company §3-82-38.9 (c).

 Certificates of Registration (liquor cards) for employees,

except for dancers, shall be valid for four (4) years from

the date of issue §3-82-38.5(b).

 The Certificate of Registration (liquor card) card shall be

retained by each employee and not surrendered to or

held by the employer§3-82-38.5(d).

 Licensees shall ensure that all employees who are

required to register with the Commission have their

Certificate of Registration for the licensed premises

readily available for inspection while on duty at that

licensed premises §3-82-38.5 (e).

There are five (5) types of Certificate of Registration cards

(liquor cards). Each identified by color.

1) Blue: Manager and Assistant Manager

2) Yellow: Bartender, Bar Backs, Wait Staff, Hostess/Host,

Door Person/Bouncer

3) Red: Minors ages 18-20

4) Green: Dancer

5) Purple: Retail

All dispenser, cabaret, hotel, club, brewpub, or condominium

hotel licenses shall employ persons in that section of the

licensed premises where liquor is sold, served or consumed

who are registered with the Commission prior to the start of

employment. For restaurant licenses (license numbers that

begin with “R”) only managers/assistant managers and

bartenders are required to be registered prior to the start of

employment.

IV. Managers/Assistant Managers and Bartenders

 Managers and Bartenders are required to be registered

with the Commission prior to working and must

successfully complete the server-training program and

pass the examination.

 The server-training program is valid for four (4) years

§3-82-38.5(f).

 Licensee must have a registered manager in active

charge of the licensed premises during the time the

establishment is licensed to sell or serve liquor

§3-82-38.9(h).

 Certificates of Registration (liquor cards) for employees

(except for dancers) shall be valid for four (4) years from

the date of issue §3-82-38.5(b).

 Managers and must be at least 21 years of age

§3-82-38.9(e).

 Managers may perform any other duties (i.e. bartender,

bar back, wait tables, seat customers) except may not be

a dancer §3-82-38.6(c).

 Managers may obtain a separate Certificate of

Registration (liquor card) for dancer and perform as a

dancer when not on duty as a manager.

 Managers of licensed hostess bars are permitted to sit

with customers during hours of operation. Registered

managers and waitresses in licensed cabarets (Class 11,

liquor license hours of 10:00 am to 4:00 am) are not

permitted to sit with customers during hours of

operation §3-84-78.01(c).

 Managers (like all other employees) may not consume

liquor while on duty §3-84-78.01(b).

 Bartenders must be at least 18 years of age and properly

supervised §281-78(b)(3).

 In general, bartenders prepare or mix alcoholic drinks,

receive payments and are responsible for the cleanliness

and orderly condition of the bar area §3-80-1.1 definitions.

 Bartenders may perform all duties (i.e. bar back, wait

tables, seat customers) except they may not perform the

duties of a manager and/or dancer. §3-82-38.6(c).

 Bartenders may not sit with customers §3-84-78.01(d).

 Bartenders (like all other employees) may not consume

liquor while on duty §3-84-78.01(b).

 Retail Managers (managers who work at grocery stores,

liquor stores, convenience stores, club type stores, drug

stores, etc.) must be registered with the Commission and

be at least 21 years of age.

 Retail Managers need not be on the premises at all times

but shall be responsible for training and monitoring their

assigned stores §3-82-38.9(a)(2).

 Retail Managers shall complete the server-training

program and pass the examination prior to being

assigned those duties §3-82-38.9(a)(2).

 Retail Managers shall ensure that cashiers are at least 21

years of age. If the cashier is 18-20 years of age, they

must be properly supervised § 281-78(b)(3).

 Retail Managers must also ensure no consumption of

alcohol by employees or customers is done on the

premises §281-78(b)(2).

 Retail Managers Certificates of Registration (liquor cards)

allow for multiple premises if ownership has multiple

properties §3-82-38.9(a)(2).

 It is the responsibility of the Licensee, Managers and

Assistant Managers to ensure all employees are following

the Liquor Laws of Hawaii and the Rules of the Liquor

Commission.

V. Licensee/Employee Conduct

 Licensees shall be strictly accountable for the conduct of

all employees on the licensed premises.

 An employee is defined as any person who performs a

service usually or normally done, on or within a licensed

premises, regardless of whether that person is under

contract of commission, registered or not registered,

compensated or not compensated, and shall be subject

to the constraints of these rules and shall be considered

an on duty employee of the licensee §3-84-78.01 (a).

 No employee while on duty shall consume liquor

§3-84-78.01 (b).

 No employee while on duty shall solicit or accept any

food or beverage, alcoholic or otherwise, as a gift from or

at the expense of a customer §3-84-78.01 (c).

 Only registered hostesses and managers of licensed

hostess bars are permitted to sit with customers during

hours of operation.

Registered managers and waitresses in cabarets (Class

11, open 10:00 am – 4:00 am) are not permitted to sit

with customers during hours of operation

§3-84-78.01 (c).

Time Cards

 Time cards are required for all employees who handle,

serve, or sell liquor §3-82-38.4 (a). Time cards must be in

English and include the employee’s first and last name

(no nicknames), must state if he or she is a minor (under

21 years of age), and must include the month, day, year

and time while on duty.

 Time record entries shall be made at the time the

employee reports on duty and again when the employee

goes off duty. If the employee is a minor, the licensee

shall print on the time record below the employee’s

name that said employee is a minor. Employee time

records shall be preserved for at least six months

§3-82-38.4 (b).

 Electronic or otherwise recorded payroll registration may

be used for the purposes of this rule with the

Administrator’s approval §3-82-38.4(c).

Stacking of Drinks §3-84-78.52

Employees serving liquor should be mindful of not over-

serving liquor to customers. Stacking is defined as having

more than two standard servings of drinks before a customer

at any one time. Standard servings as follows:

 Distilled Spirits - 16 ounces

 Wine - 6 ounces

 Beer - 22 ounces

If the serving is in excess of these amounts, the customer

shall be limited to one drink. A multi-serving container, not

to exceed 60 ounces, may be served to two or more persons.

At last call, multiple-serving container service or any drink

exceeding a single standard serving shall be prohibited.

Obstructing Commission Operations

 No Licensee shall allow the obstruction, hampering, or

interfering with investigations and inspections or Liquor

Commission operations in any way, including by not

limited to, the sounding of alarms, flashing of lights or

use of a public address system or other advance warning

announcing the arrival of Commission investigators

§3-84-79.1.

Practices to Promote Consumption of Liquor, Prohibited.

 No Licensee of any premises licensed to sell liquor for

consumption on the premises shall §3-84-75.51:

1. Sell, advertise or offer to sell “all the liquor you can

drink” for a fixed price.

2. Encourage or permit any game or contest that

involves the consumption of liquor or the awarding

of liquor as a prize.

VI. Enforcement

Liquor Commission Investigators visit Licensees to enforce the

Liquor Laws of Hawaii and the Rules of the Liquor

Commission. Licensees and employees shall not allow the

obstruction, hampering, or interfering with investigations and

inspections or Liquor Commission operations in any way,

including but not limited to, the sounding of alarms, flashing

of lights or other to provide advance warning announcing the

arrival of Commission investigators §3-84-79.1.

Complaint and Summons

A Complaint and Summons may be issued if any person

violates Chapter 281 or any rule or regulation in effect by

authority of this chapter, whether in connection therewith a

penalty is referred to or not, for which violation no penalty is

specifically prescribed, the person shall be imprisoned not

more than six months or fined not more than $1,000, or both

§281-102.

Sample Complaint and Summons

SAMPLE

ONLY

Notice of Violation

A Notice of Violation may be issued to a Licensee should they

be in violation of a City and County of Honolulu Liquor

Commission Rule. The Licensee (owner/representative) must

appear at an adjudication hearing before the Liquor

Commission where it will be determined if the violation

sustained Licensee will pay a reprimand fine, or whether

there be a restriction, suspension, or revocation of the liquor

license.

Sample Notice of Violation

SAMPLE

ONLY

VII. Improper Influence

Any licensee, employee of a licensee or its agent who shall

give, pay, or offer directly or indirectly any pecuniary benefit

to any Liquor Commission investigator or staff member with

the intent to influence the investigator or staff member in the

discharge of any duty herein provided for, shall be guilty of a

violation §3-84-79.2 (a).

Any licensee, employee of a licensee or its agent who solicits,

accepts, or agrees to accept, directly or indirectly, any

pecuniary benefit with the intent that such person’s

judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action as regards to

compliance with any liquor law or Rules will thereby be

influenced, shall be guilty of a violation §3-84-79.2 (b).

VIII. Licensee Requirements

A licensee shall be authorized to sell or serve alcohol and

liquor based upon its class of license during the hours

specified as follows §3-82-38.19:

1) Dispenser (Bar), Club, Restaurant, Brewpub, Caterer,

Vessel, Transient Vessel, Tour or Cruise Vessel, and

Special - From 6:00am to 2:00am the following day.

2) Cabaret - From 10:00am to 4:00am the following day.

3) Retail - From 6:00am to 12 midnight.

4) Manufacturer and Wholesaler - 24 Hours a day.

5) Hotel - From 6:00am to 4:00am the following day.

6) Temporary - The hours of the class of the license for

which the license has been submitted.

7) Condominium Hotel - From 6:00am to 2:00am the

following day.

 No sale, service or consumption of liquor on or within the

licensed premises shall be provided before or after the

hours established by the Commission §3-82-38.20 (a).

 No liquor, whether in a bottle, glass or other container,

shall be open and readily consumable within the licensed

premises before or after the authorized hours

§3-82-38.20 (b).

 A drink shall contain not less than one fluid ounce of

liquor unless the customer requests the drink be mixed

with a lesser amount of liquor §3-84-73.1.

 It shall be unlawful for any retail licensee (Class 2 or Class

4 through Class 14 license), except a Class 10 licensee, to

purchase, acquire, or sell liquor from any person other

than a licensed wholesaler §281-31(s).

IX. Licensee Display Requirements

All licensees must have the following items visibly displayed

at the licensed premises.

1) Liquor Commission License §281-71

2) Liquor price list - menu, table tent, sign §3-82-38.11

3) “It is Illegal” – Under 21 laws §3-82-44.1(c)

4) “Be Aware” – Penalties of Driving Under the Influence

§3-82-44.1(d)

Sample 2013 Liquor Commission License

“It is Illegal” – Laws regarding minors under 21

Sections 281-78 and 281-101.5, Hawaii Revised Statues

“Be Aware” – Penalties for Driving Under the Influence

X. Dangers of Driving While Intoxicated

Driving under the influence (DUI) is against the law and no

person(s) should be driving a vehicle or operating heavy

machinery while intoxicated.

Alcohol impairs normal function and affects people’s vision,

coordination, judgment, reaction time and reflexes. These

impairments make it difficult for anyone to drive safely.

The person driving while intoxicated may cause a serious

accident and statistics show many DUI related accidents can

be fatal.

Help keep your customers safe, the roads safe and our

community safe. Don’t over-serve your customers, observe

them and obey the Laws and Rules of selling and serving

liquor.

Four (4) types of people you cannot sell or serve liquor to.

1) Minor (under age 21)

2) Under the Influence

3) Addicted to Alcohol

4) Purchasing for a Minor

Be aware that your customers may have been consuming

liquor prior to entering your establishment.

Customers under the influence may not enter or remain on

your premises even if they stop drinking liquor §281-78 (b)(5).

You may not sell, serve, furnish liquor, or allow consumption

of any liquor by anyone under the influence of liquor

§281-78 (b)(1)(B).

XI. Identifying and Dealing with Intoxicated Persons

Some common signs of intoxication include:

1) Red flushed face, blood shot eyes

2) Vomiting

3) Talking loudly, being disorderly

4) Slurred or slowed speech

5) Uncoordinated

6) Sudden mood changes

7) Staggers, sways, has difficulty walking

8) Sleepy

Employees should be familiar with the signs of intoxication

and know what action(s) to take when dealing with an

intoxicated person.

Here are three (3) examples of customers under the influence

who require proper attention. How would you assist these

people?

1) Customer has slurred speech, seems uncoordinated, and

appears sleepy with bloodshot eyes.

2) Customer is belligerent, disorderly and starts a fight.

3) Customer is found in the restroom disoriented, vomiting

and unresponsive.

What would you do and who would you call under these

circumstances?

We encourage employers to establish policies and procedures

to better prepare themselves to assist customers who may be

intoxicated. Employees should be trained on how to handle

the example situations mentioned and should be familiar

with providing documentation and completing an incident

report.

Addendum to Server Training Study Guide

Laws and Rules as discussed in server training

(for Managers & Bartenders)

Cited from the Liquor Laws of Hawaii & Rules of the Liquor Commission booklet

Chapter 281, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS)

State Liquor Laws

§281-1 Definitions. Whenever used in this chapter, unless

otherwise apparent from the context:

 “Addicted to the excessive use of intoxicating liquor”

refers to one who has acquired the habit of using

intoxicating liquor excessively to deprive oneself of

reasonable self-control, a common drunkard, or a

habitual drunkard.

 “Alcohol” means the product of distillation of any

fermented liquid, whether rectified or not, whatever may

be the origin thereof, and includes synthetic ethyl

alcohol, but not denatured or other alcohol which is

considered nonpotable under the customs laws of the

United States.

 “Licensee” includes also all agents, servants, and

employees of the holder of a license.

 "Premises" or "licensed premises" means the building

and property that houses the establishment for which a

license has been or is proposed to be issued; provided

that in the case of class 12 hotel license, "premises"

includes the hotel premises; provided further that in the

case of a class 15 condominium hotel license, "premises"

includes units, as defined in section 514B-3, that are used

to provide transient lodging for periods of less than thirty

days under a written contract with the owner or owners

of each unit in, and common elements for access

purposes as established by the declaration of

condominium property regime of, the condominium

hotel; and provided further that if an establishment is in

a retail shopping complex the businesses of which have

formed a merchants association, "premises" means the

establishment. As used in this definition,

"establishment" means a single physical location where

the selling of liquor takes place.

§281-31 Licenses, classes.

(a) Licenses may be granted by the liquor commission as

provided in this section.

(b) Class 1. Manufacturers’ licenses. A license for the

manufacture of liquor shall authorize the licensee to:

(1) Manufacture the liquor therein specified;

(2) Sell it in original packages to any wholesaler who

holds a license to resell it; and

(3) Sell beer, wine, or other specified liquor

manufactured or distilled on the licensee’s premises

from fruits or other products grown in the State, in any

quantity:

(A) At wholesale in original packages to any person

who holds a license to resell it; and

(B) To any person for private use and consumption.

Under this license, no liquor shall be consumed on the

premises except as authorized by the commission. Of this

class, there shall be the following kinds:

(1) Beer;

(2) Wine;

(3) Alcohol; and

(4) Other specified liquor.

It shall be unlawful for any holder of a manufacturer’s

license to have any interest whatsoever in the license or

licensed premises of any other licensee. This subsection shall

not prevent the holder of a manufacturer’s license under this

chapter or under the law of another jurisdiction from

maintaining any interest in the license or licensed premises of

a wholesale dealer licensee under this chapter.

(1) A license under this class shall authorize the

licensee to sell liquor specified in this subsection for

consumption on the premises; provided that a

restaurant licensee, with commission approval, may

provide off-premises catering of food and liquor;

provided further that the catering activity shall be

directly related to the licensee’s operation as a

restaurant. A licensee under this class shall be issued a

license according to the category of establishment the

licensee owns or operates. The categories of

establishment shall be as follows:

(A) A standard bar; or

(B) A premises in which live entertainment or

recorded music is provided. Facilities for dancing

by the patrons may be permitted as provided by

commission rules.

(2) If a licensee under class 2 desires to change the

category of establishment the licensee owns or

operates, the licensee shall apply for a new license

applicable to the category of the licensee’s

establishment.

(3) Of this class, there shall be the following kinds:

(A) General (includes all liquor except alcohol);

(B) Beer and wine; and

Notwithstanding section 281-57, the commission may

approve at one public hearing and without notice the change

to a class 2 restaurant license of a licensee holding a class 5

dispenser license who meets the requirements of a class 2

license.

(d) Class 3. Wholesale dealers’ licenses. A license for the

sale of liquor at wholesale shall authorize the licensee to

import and sell only to licensees or to others who are by law

authorized to resell the liquor specified by the license but are

not by law required to hold a license; provided that a class 3

licensee may sell samples of liquor back to the manufacturer.

Under a class 3 license, no liquor shall be consumed on the

premises except as authorized by the commission. Of this

class, there shall be the following kinds:

(1) General (includes all liquor except alcohol);

(2) Beer and wine; and

(3) Alcohol.

If any wholesale dealer solicits or takes any orders in any

county other than that where the dealer’s place of business is

located, the orders may be filled only by shipment direct from

the county in which the wholesale dealer has the dealer’s

license. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent a wholesaler

from selling liquor to post exchanges, ships’ service stores,

army or navy officers’ clubs, or similar organizations located

on army or navy reservations, or to any vessel other than

vessels performing a regular water transportation service

between any two or more ports in the state, or to aviation

companies who operate an aerial transportation enterprise

subject to chapter 269 and engaged in regular flight

passenger services between any two or more airports in the

state for use on aircraft, or aviation companies engaged in

transpacific flight operations for use on aircraft outside the

jurisdiction of the State.

(e) Class 4. Retail dealers’ licenses. A license to sell liquor

at retail or to class 10 licensees shall authorize the licensee to

sell the liquor therein specified in their original packages.

Under a class 4 license, no liquor shall be consumed on the

premises except as authorized by the commission. Of this

class, there shall be the following kinds:

(1) General (includes all liquor except alcohol);

(2) Beer and wine; and

(3) Alcohol.

(f) Class 5. Dispensers’ licenses.

(1) A license under this class shall authorize the

licensee to sell liquor specified in this subsection for

consumption on the premises. A licensee under this

class shall be issued a license according to the category

of establishment the licensee owns or operates. The

categories of establishments shall be as follows:

(A) A standard bar;

(B) A premise in which a person performs or

entertains unclothed or in attire restricted to use

by entertainers pursuant to commission rules;

recorded music is provided; provided that facilities

for dancing by the patrons may be permitted as

provided by commission rules; or

(D) A premise in which employees or entertainers

are compensated to sit with patrons, regardless of

whether the employees or entertainers are

consuming nonalcoholic beverages while in the

company of the patrons pursuant to commission

rules.

(2) If a licensee under class 5 desires to change the

category of establishment the licensee owns or

operates, the licensee shall apply for a new license

applicable to the category of the licensee’s

establishment.

(3) Of this class, there shall be the following kinds:

(A) General (includes all liquor except alcohol);

(B) Beer and wine; and

(g) Class 6. Club licenses. A club license shall be general

only but shall exclude alcohol and shall authorize the licensee

to sell liquor to members of the club and to guests of the club

enjoying the privileges of membership for consumption only

on the premises kept and operated by the club; provided that

the license shall also authorize any club member to keep in

the member’s private locker on the premises a reasonable

quantity of liquor owned by the member for the member’s

own personal use and not to be sold that may be consumed

only on the premises. A club licensee shall be authorized to

host charitable functions that are open to the general public

only pursuant to commission rules.

The categories of establishment shall be as follows:

(1) A standard bar; or

(2) Premises in which live entertainment or recorded

music is provided. Facilities for dancing by the patrons

may be permitted as provided by commission rules.

§281-71 Posting of license. Every license issued and in effect

under this chapter shall at all times be conspicuously posted

and exposed to view, convenient for inspection, on the

licensed premises. For failure thereof the license may be

suspended or revoked by the liquor commission or liquor

control adjudication board.

§281-78 Prohibitions.

(a) No person shall consume any liquor on any:

(1) Public highway, except as permitted in section

291-3.4;

(2) Public sidewalk, including any sidewalk within a public

housing project as defined in section 356D-1 or 356D-91;

(3) Common area of a public housing project as defined

in section 356D-1 or 356D-91. For purposes of this

paragraph, “common area” means roofs, halls, corridors,

lobbies, stairs, stairways, fire escapes, entrances and

exits of the building or buildings, basements, yards,

gardens, recreational facilities, parking areas, storage

spaces, and other parts of the project normally in

common use or other areas designated by the Hawaii

public housing authority.

(b) At no time under any circumstances shall any licensee or

its employee:

(1) Sell, serve, or furnish any liquor to, or allow the

consumption of any liquor by:

(A) Any minor;

(B) Any person at the time under the influence of

liquor;

to the excessive use of intoxicating liquor; or

(D) Any person for consumption in any vehicle that is

licensed to travel on public highways;

provided that the consumption or sale of liquor to a

minor shall not be deemed to be a violation of this

subsection if, in making the sale or allowing the

consumption of any liquor by a minor, the licensee

was misled by the appearance of the minor and the

attending circumstances into honestly believing that

the minor was of legal age and the licensee acted in

good faith; and provided further that it shall be

incumbent upon the licensee to prove that the

licensee so acted in good faith;

(2) Permit any liquor to be consumed on the premises of

the licensee or on any premises connected therewith,

whether there purchased or not, except as permitted by

the terms of its license;

(3) Permit any liquor to be sold or served by any person

eighteen to twenty years of age except in licensed

establishments where selling or serving the intoxicating

liquor is part of the minor’s employment, and where

there is proper supervision of these minor employees to

ensure that the minors shall not consume the

intoxicating liquor;

(4) Permit any liquor to be sold or served by any person

below the age of eighteen years upon any licensed

premises, except in individually specified licensed

establishments found to be otherwise suitable by the

liquor commission in which an approved program of job

training and employment for dining room waiters and

waitresses is being conducted in cooperation with the

University of Hawaii, the state community college

system, or a federally sponsored personnel development

and training program, under arrangements that ensure

proper control and supervision of employees;

(5) Knowingly permit any person under the influence of

liquor or disorderly person to be or remain in or on the

licensed premises;

(6) Fail to timely prevent or suppress any violent,

quarrelsome, disorderly, lewd, immoral, or unlawful

conduct of any person on the premises;

(7) Sell any draught beer unless upon the faucet, spigot,

or outlet wherefrom the beer is drawn there is attached

a clear and legible notice, placard, or marker which in the

English language indicates and declares the name or

brand adopted by the manufacturer of the draught beer,

so situated as to be clearly legible for a distance of at

least ten feet from the spigot, faucet, or outlet, to a

purchaser with normal vision;

(8) Receive from a person, as payment or as a

consideration for liquor, any personal or household

goods, including clothing and food, or any implements of

trade. Any person violating this paragraph shall be guilty

of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished

as provided in section 281-102.

§281-78.5 Practices to promote excessive consumption of

liquor; prohibited.

(a) No person licensed to sell liquor for consumption on the

premises shall engage in practices which promote excessive

consumption of liquor.

(b) The liquor commission shall adopt rules pursuant to

Chapter 91 to prohibit specific liquor promotion practices

which promote excessive consumption of liquor.

by the commission pursuant to this chapter shall be guilty of

a violation for each separate offense. Each date of violation

shall constitute a separate offense.

§281-101.5 Prohibitions involving minors; penalty.

(a) Any adult who provides or purchases liquor for

consumption or use by a person under twenty-one years of

age shall be guilty of the offense under section 712-1250.5.

(b) No minor shall consume or purchase liquor and no minor

shall consume or have liquor in the minor's possession or

custody in any public place, public gathering, or public

amusement, at any public beach or public park, or in any

motor vehicle on a public highway; provided that

notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, this

subsection shall not apply to:

(1) Possession or custody of liquor by a minor in the course

of delivery, pursuant to the direction of the minor's

employer lawfully engaged in business necessitating the

delivery;

(2) Possession, custody, or consumption of liquor by a

minor in connection with the minor's authorized

participation in religious ceremonies requiring such

possession, custody, or consumption; or

(3) Any person between the ages of eighteen and twenty,

who is participating in a controlled purchase as part of a

law enforcement activity or a study authorized by the

department of health to determine the level of incidence of

liquor sales to minors.

identification or identification of another person or of a

fictitious person for the purpose of buying or attempting to

buy liquor or for the purpose of obtaining employment to sell

or serve liquor on licensed premises.

(d) Any person under age eighteen who violates this section

shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the family court. Any

person age eighteen to twenty-one who violates subsection

(b) or (c) shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor. The court

shall order that any person under twenty-one years of age

found to be in violation of this section shall have, in addition

to any other disposition or sentencing provision permitted by

law, the person's license to operate a motor vehicle, or the

person's ability to obtain a license to operate a motor vehicle,

suspended as follows:

(1) For licensed drivers, the driver's license shall be

suspended for not less than one hundred and eighty days

with exceptions to allow, at the discretion of the

sentencing court, driving to and from school, school-

sponsored activities, and employment;

(2) For persons with a provisional license, the provisional

license shall be suspended for not less than one hundred

and eighty days with exceptions to allow, at the discretion

of the sentencing court, driving

§281-102 Other offenses; penalty. If any person violates this

chapter or any rule or regulation in effect by authority of this

chapter, whether in connection there with a penalty is

referred to or not, for which violation no penalty is

specifically prescribed, the person shall be imprisoned not

more than six months or fined not more than $1,000, or both.

Rules of the Liquor Commission

§3-80-1. DEFINITIONS.

§3-80-1.1. Definitions.

 “Bartender” means a person who prepares or mixes

alcoholic drinks in accordance with established recipes

and procedures, collects and receives payment for drinks

served as all or part of his duties, and is responsible for

the cleanliness and orderly condition of the bar area.

This excludes people who only open or pour draught or

bottled beer or wine. This also excludes a customer who

brings into the premises, purchases from the licensee, or

obtains from the licensee wine or distilled spirits in its

original container, or a pitcher of beer, and pours wine or

distilled spirits from the original container, or beer from a

pitcher, to create an unmixed serving of liquor for

himself or others who sit at the pourer’s table and

consume the serving of liquor at the pourer’s table.

 “Host or Hostess” means a person who is either

compensated or not compensated and allowed to sit

with patrons, whether or not the individual, employee or

entertainer is consuming nonalcoholic beverages while in

the company of the patrons. As stated in Sec. 281-31

HRS the host or hostess shall only be allowed to be

employed or utilized under a class 5 dispenser, category

4 license. Under a class 2 license, or class 12-14 licenses,

a host or hostess shall be described as the person who

meets, greets, or seats the customer.

 “Manager” means the designated person duly registered

with the Commission as a manager or assistant manager

who is in active charge of the licensed premises during

the time the establishment is licensed to sell or serve

liquor.

§3-82-38.1. Familiarity with Liquor Laws and Rules.

Licensees and their employees shall familiarize themselves

with the liquor laws and the rules of the Commission.

§3-82-38.2. Copy of Liquor Laws and Rules on Licensed

Premises.

Every licensee (except special licensees, transient vessel per

day, and caterer) shall have a current copy of the statutes

relating to intoxicating liquor and the rules of the Commission

in English available at all times on the licensed premises.

Customers shall be entitled to examine the statutes and rules

upon request.

§3-82-38.5. Registration of Employees.

(a) All dispenser, cabaret, hotel, club, brewpub, or condominium

hotel licensees shall employ only persons in that section of

the licensed premises where liquor is sold, served or

consumed who are registered with the Commission prior to

the start of employment.

For restaurant licensees, only managers and bartenders are

required to be registered prior to the start of employment.

Licensees shall ensure that any bartender currently employed

in these classes of licenses successfully completes the server-

training program within ninety (90) days of the publication of

these rules.

A temporary registration is allowed for each employee who

has an unexpired certificate of registration.

This temporary registration shall not exceed three (3)

consecutive days, and will only become effective if the

licensee timely advised the Commission by facsimile time

stamp of the temporary employment.

Further, the employee temporarily registered with the

Commission must permanently register not later than the

first working day after the temporary registration expires.

An employee need not obtain a new certificate of registration

because of a name change only. This rule shall apply to the

registration of employees under a temporary license based

upon a new license application as stated in §3-82-32.1.

However, this rule shall not apply to employees under a

temporary license based upon a transfer license application

where the employee is registered under the pre-existing

license.

(b) Certificates of registration issued by the Commission shall be

valid only for the licensed premises for which the employee

registers and the license number of the premises shall be

printed on the certificate of registration.

Employees may be employed to work at more than one

licensed premises; however, a separate certificate of

registration shall be required for each licensed premises.

Certificates of registration for employees, except for dancers,

shall be valid for four (4) years from the date of issue.

present:

(1) Positive identification in the form of either a passport, a

laminated driver’s license with photograph, or other

laminated government identification with a photograph;

(2) Proof of a Social Security number;

(3) A current satisfactory tuberculosis (TB) clearance report.

(d) Each person registered shall be photographed and issued a

certificate of registration which shall be valid until the

expiration date indicated thereon or when recalled,

suspended, or revoked by the Commission. The certificate of

registration shall be retained by each employee and not

surrendered to or held by the employer. A processing fee

shall be charged for each certificate of registration issued to

cover the cost of materials and processing.

(e) Licensees shall ensure that all employees who are required to

registration for the licensed premises readily available for

inspection while on duty at that licensed premises.

(f) All dispenser, cabaret, restaurant, tour or cruise vessel,

annually licensed transient vessel, hotel, club, brewpub, or

condominium hotel licensees shall employ only bartenders

who have successfully completed the server-training program

administered by the Commission, including an examination

and instruction in the following areas:

(1) Identifying and dealing with intoxicated persons,

(2) Reviewing liquor laws and rules, and

(3) Dangers of driving while intoxicated.

In these classes, the licensees shall ensure that individuals

currently employed as a bartender successfully complete the

server-training program within ninety (90) days of publication

of these rules. A person may be issued a certificate of

registration as a bartender for the same or another licensed

premises and need not retake the server-training program if

that person had successfully completed the server-training

program within the past four (4) years.

(g) If an employee has been issued a manager’s certificate of

registration for a particular licensed premises, the employee

with the manager’s certificate need not be issued a separate

employee’s certificate of registration of another category,

except dancers, for the same licensed premises.

(h) Entertainers are not required to be registered as employees

pursuant to this rule.

(i) The licensee shall ensure that any employee who performs

duties of a hostess, as defined in §3-80-1.1, in a class 5

Dispenser, Category 4 licensed premises, is duly registered as

a hostess with the Liquor Commission. Licensed premises not

authorized Category 4 (hostess) shall not have employees

registered or performing duties as hostesses, except as

defined in §3-80-1.1.

(j) For hotel and condominium hotel licensees, only managers,

bartenders and staff who handle, serve or sell liquor are

required to be registered as employees pursuant to this rule.

§3-82-38.9. Licensee and Manager in Charge of Premises.

(a) Each dispenser, cabaret, tour or cruise vessel, annually

licensed transient vessel, restaurant, club, hotel, caterer,

brewpub, and condominium hotel licensee shall have a duly

registered manager in active charge of the licensed premises

during the time the establishment is licensed to sell or serve

liquor.

(1) Managers on catered premises shall be registered with

the hotel, restaurant, or condominium hotel licensee

performing the catering.

(2) Retail (class 4) licensees shall have a duly registered

manager or assistant manager assigned to each licensed

premises (or group of premises if ownership has multiple

properties) to insure employees are knowledgeable in

applicable Commission laws and rules. It is not required that

these managers be present at all times but shall assume

responsibility for training and monitoring their assigned

stores. These managers shall complete the server-training

program and pass the examination prior to being assigned

those duties or within one hundred eighty (180) days after

publication of these rules, if currently performing those

duties.

(b) A person shall successfully complete the server-training

program and pass the examination administered by the

Commission before that person can be registered with the

Commission as a manager or permitted to renew the

manager’s certificate of registration. However, a person may

be issued a manager’s certificate of registration for the same

or another licensed premises and need not retake the server-

training program and pass the examination if that person had

successfully completed the server training program within the

past four (4) years.

valid only for the licensed premises in which the manager is

registered. A person may be employed to work as a manager

at more than one licensed premises, however, that person

shall have a manager’s certificate of registration for each

licensed premises. Retail licensees shall be exempt from the

“one certificate-one premises” limitation.

(d) Certificates of registration for managers shall be valid for four

(4) years from the date of issue. Any person registered as a

manager for a licensed premises may also perform any other

duties at the same premises, except for performing as a

dancer, which does require a separate registration, or sit with

customers in the case of a cabaret. Managers of licensed

cabarets are not permitted to sit with customers during hours

of operation.

(e) Persons who apply to the Commission for registration as a

manager for a particular premises shall present:

(1) Positive identification in the form of either a passport, a

laminated driver’s license with photograph, or other

laminated government identification with photograph;

(2) Proof of a Social Security number;

(3) Proof that the applicant is at least twenty-one (21) years

of age;

(4) A letter from the licensee certifying that the applicant

will be or is a manager of the licensed premises;

(5) A current satisfactory tuberculosis (TB) clearance report.

(f) Each person registering as a manager shall be photographed

and issued a certificate of registration which shall be valid for

use only at the designated licensed premises until the

expiration date or until recalled, suspended or revoked by the

Commission. The certificate of registration shall be retained

by each manager and not surrendered to or be held by the

employer. A processing fee shall be charged for each

certificate of registration issued to cover the cost of materials

and processing.

(g) Licensees shall ensure that all managers who are required to

certificate of registration for the licensed premise readily

available for inspection while on duty at that premises.

(h) All retail, dispenser, cabaret, tour or cruise vessel, restaurant,

club, hotel, brewpub, and condominium hotel licensees shall

ensure that responsible managers have successfully

completed the server-training program administered by the

Commission, including passing an examination and

instruction in the following areas:

(1) Identifying and dealing with intoxicated persons,

(2) Reviewing liquor laws and rules, and

(3) Dangers of driving while intoxicated.

§3-82-38.11. Price List to be Posted.

(a) Current prices of all liquor and any other services shall, at all

times, be posted and exposed to view of patrons within the

interior of the licensed premises authorized to sell liquor for

consumption on the premises. For the purpose of this rule,

legible signs, menus or table tents are acceptable. If there is

a price range for certain types of liquor, the licensee shall

post the minimum price and the maximum price of the liquor.

(b) All price lists and menus displayed pursuant to subparagraph

(a) of this rule shall state whether or not a service charge is

included in the total amount charged to the customer and the

amount of said charge, if any.

(a) of this rule shall state whether any tax is added to the

total amount charged to the customer for liquor, other

beverages and/or services provided.

§3-82-44. ADVERTISEMENTS AND SIGNS UPON LICENSED

PREMISES.

§3-82-44.1. Advertisements and Signs.

(a) No licensee shall permit lewd or obscene advertising

matter to be distributed or displayed in connection with the

exercise of its license.

(b) Any exterior signs which contain liquor advertising, either

in whole or in part, shall conform to the sign regulations of

the Land Use Ordinance and this rule and have prior approval

of the City Department of Planning and Permitting.

“IT IS ILLEGAL:

 FOR A PERSON UNDER 21 YEARS OLD TO PURCHASE,

POSSESS, OR CONSUME LIQUOR

 TO USE FALSE IDENTIFICATION TO OBTAIN LIQUOR

 TO USE ANOTHER PERSON’S IDENTIFICATION TO OBTAIN

LIQUOR, OR

 TO PURCHASE LIQUOR FOR A PERSON UNDER 21 YEARS OLD

Sections 281-78 & 101.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.”

The sign shall be clearly legible from a distance of ten feet to

a person with normal vision and shall contain this exact

wording.

(d) All licensees shall display in and around the premises signs

notifying all customers of the penalties of driving under the

influence of intoxicating liquor under Section 291-4, HRS.

These signs are available from the Commission at no charge.

§3-84-73. QUALITY OF LIQUOR; PENALTY.

§3-84-73.1. Liquor Content of Drinks.

(a) A drink containing one or more kinds of liquor and any non-

alcoholic mixture which is served, sold, offered for sale, or

prepared for such purpose by a licensee authorized to sell

liquor for consumption on the licensed premises, shall

contain not less than one fluid ounce or thirty milliliters of

liquor unless the customer requests the drink be mixed with a

lesser amount of liquor.

(b) When liquor is poured into a glass or container by the

licensee or an employee, the drink shall be presumed to have

been prepared for service or sale, notwithstanding the fact

that the non-alcoholic mixture has not been added. This

subsection shall not apply to a drink served as a straight drink

with or without a “chaser.”

thirty milliliters of liquor unless the customer requests a

lesser amount of liquor.

§3-84-78. PROHIBITIONS.

§3-84-78.01. Conduct of Employees.

(a) Licensees shall be strictly accountable for the conduct of all

employees on the licensed premises.

Any person who performs a service usually or normally done,

on or within a licensed premises, regardless of whether that

person is under contract or commission, registered or not

registered, compensated or not compensated, shall be

subject to the constraints of these rules and shall be

considered an on duty employee of the licensee.

This rule does not apply to vendors, tradesmen, or

maintenance people who, in the normal course of their

duties, service the licensed premises.

For purposes of this rule, an entertainer shall be deemed to

be an employee of the licensee during the time the

entertainer is performing or while the entertainer is on the

platform or stage or in any other area set aside for the

performance.

(b) No employee while on duty shall consume liquor.

beverage, alcoholic or otherwise, as a gift from or at the

expense of a customer.

(d) Only registered hostesses and managers of licensed hostess

bars are permitted to sit with customers during hours of

operation. Registered managers and waitresses in licensed

cabarets are not permitted to sit with customers during hours

of operations.

§3-84-79. ENTRY FOR EXAMINATION; PENALTY.

§3-84-79.1. Obstructing Commission Operations.

No licensee shall allow the obstruction, hampering, or

interfering with investigations and inspections or Liquor

Commission operations in any way, including but not limited

to, the sounding of alarms, flashing of lights or use of a public

address system or other advance warning announcing the

arrival of Commission investigators.

§3-84-79.2. Improper Influence.

(a) Any licensee, employee of a licensee or its agent who shall

give, pay, or offer, directly or indirectly, any pecuniary benefit

to any Liquor Commission investigator or staff member, with

the intent to influence the investigator or staff member in the

discharge of any duty herein provided for, shall be guilty of a

violation.

(b) Any licensee, employee of a licensee or its agent who solicits,

accepts, or agrees to accept, directly or indirectly, any

pecuniary benefit with the intent that such person’s

judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action as regards to

compliance with any liquor law or Rules will thereby be

influenced, shall be guilty of a violation.

§3-86-101.5. PROHIBITIONS INVOLVING MINORS; PENALTY.

§3-86-101.51. Sale or Service of Liquor to Minors,

Prohibited.

(a) The sale or service of liquor to a minor or the consumption of

liquor by a minor on any licensed or unlicensed premises, any

off-premises catered event, or any other premises authorized

by the Commission is prohibited. Licensees are responsible

for the proper checking of personal identification of any

person wishing to purchase liquor, prior to the selling or

serving of liquor.

(b) Documents used for identification shall be an official state

driver’s license, a military identification card, other official

government identification containing a photograph, or other

form of identification document approved by the

Commission. Such documents shall be unaltered, undamaged

and laminated. At a minimum, non-government

identification approved by the Commission shall bear the

name of the issuing entity, date of issuance, expiration date

or date of departure from the State of Hawaii, date of birth, a

photograph, signature, and a statement that the

identification is valid only in the County of Honolulu. All

documents should be examined carefully. School

identification cards, expired documents of any kind, cards

with such phrases as “information provided by applicant” or

the like, identification cards issued for the purpose of check

cashing or other identification cards not issued by a

government agency are unacceptable, unless approved by

the Commission.