Today, anyone who works in any industry to do with the selling or serving of alcohol must have a TIPS certification card. TIPS or Training for Intervention Procedures is a skills-based guidance program that has been designed to avoid intoxication, drunk driving and underage drinking by developing the essential "people skills" of servers, sellers and consumers of alcohol. These skills once acquired, help sellers and servers of alcohol, judge, predict and act upon situations; helping them prevent cases of drunkenness and drunken driving; preventing deaths and accidents within the community. Apart from making them aware of the people whom they serve alcohol to, TIPS helps servers and sellers avoid serving alcohol to minors as well.

The training provided via TIPS sessions can be split up into 3 distinct parts:

• Information
• Skills Training
• Practice/Rehearsal

At the end of the training session, participants/students have to complete an alternative choice exam and upon successful completion of the same, will receive a certification card which is valid for three years.

TIPS training can be provided in a classroom environment and can be even served online via the internet.

• Classroom Training Sessions: The classroom training sessions are conducted by certified TIPS trainers who, in addition to their extensive work experience in the industry, have completed a rigorous two-day, Train-the-Trainer workshop as well. Training can either be requested or a student can choose to be a part of an already scheduled classroom session.
• Online Training Sessions: Online training sessions are conducted online. All a student has to do is log on the training website with the help of a computer; pay the necessary fees and begin the test online. The online sessions are self-paced and one can take them up after selecting any one of the two categories given below:
• The Off Premise program is an OnLine program addressing the sale of alcohol at grocery stores, liquor stores, convenience stores and package stores. Clerks learn strategies for preventing illegal alcohol sales to underage and/or intoxicated patrons.
• The On Premise program is an OnLine program designed for servers at restaurants, bars, hotels, or any establishment where alcohol is consumed on the premises. Employees learn strategies for serving alcohol responsibly while providing the best possible customer service.

TIPS Alcoholic beverage server training is now mandatory in many states. Servers of alcohol must complete the training within 30 days of commencing employment.