South Carolina Alcohol Server Practice Test

Getting your South Carolina alcohol server certificate? This free practice test has 51 questions on what every approved course has to teach: the certificate rules, checking IDs, sales to minors, intoxication, how alcohol affects the body, impaired driving, hours and drink specials, and guns in bars. Every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the part of our South Carolina alcohol server guide that covers it.

South Carolina alcohol server questions and answers

Take the test first: this section gives the answers away. Here is every question in the bank, grouped by topic, with the rule behind each answer.

Your certificate

1. 1Since January 1, 2026, who needs a South Carolina alcohol server certificate?

   1. Only the owner or license holder of the business
   2. Only bartenders who mix drinks behind the bar
   3. On-premises alcohol servers and the managers who oversee them
   4. Anyone who sells sealed beer or wine at a grocery or convenience store

   Answer: C. On-premises alcohol servers and the managers who oversee them

   The law covers people who sell alcohol for on-premises consumption (SCDOR says at least 10 hours a week) and managers who oversee alcohol service (S.C. Code § 61-3-100). Stores that sell sealed alcohol to go aren't covered. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

2. 2You start a new serving job without a certificate. How long does your employer have to get you trained?

   1. 90 calendar days
   2. 30 calendar days
   3. 60 calendar days
   4. 7 calendar days

   Answer: B. 30 calendar days

   If a new server or manager doesn't have a current certificate, the employer must provide the training within 30 calendar days of employment (§ 61-3-110(A)). The 60 days you may see online comes from an insurance rule, not the training deadline. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

3. 3How do you take an approved South Carolina server training course?

   1. Online, at least four hours, with a proctored exam
   2. On the job, with a manager signing off instead of an exam
   3. In a classroom, with a paper exam graded by the instructor
   4. In person at an SCDOR office, with a written test

   Answer: A. Online, at least four hours, with a proctored exam

   SCDOR approves only online programs. Each must run at least four hours, be available in English and Spanish, and end with a test monitored by an online proctor, usually through your webcam (§ 61-3-120(C)). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

4. 4What is the most an approved program can charge you for the course?

   1. $25
   2. $50
   3. $100
   4. There is no limit

   Answer: B. $50

   A provider may charge a fee "not to exceed fifty dollars per participant" (§ 61-3-120(A)(2)), and SCDOR charges nothing for the certificate itself (§ 61-3-130(F)). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

5. 5How long is a South Carolina alcohol server certificate valid?

   1. For life
   2. 3 years
   3. 2 years
   4. 5 years

   Answer: B. 3 years

   Certificates are valid for three years from the date SCDOR issues them (§ 61-3-130(D)). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

6. 6You move to a job at another South Carolina bar. What happens to your certificate?

   1. You have to retake the course for the new employer
   2. It goes with you, because it belongs to you
   3. It expires when you quit
   4. It stays with your old employer, who keeps it on file

   Answer: B. It goes with you, because it belongs to you

   An alcohol server certificate is the property of the person it's issued to and transfers among employers (§ 61-3-130(C)). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

7. 7Your employer paid for your training. When does the law say you have to pay them back?

   1. Only if you fail the exam and have to retake it
   2. If you leave within six months of getting certified
   3. Always, out of your first paycheck after the training
   4. Never; the employer always pays for training

   Answer: B. If you leave within six months of getting certified

   A worker must reimburse an employer that paid for the training if they leave within six months of the certificate being issued (§ 61-3-130(C)). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

8. 8Where do you get your official state certificate after you pass?

   1. At a DMV office
   2. You download it from SCDOR with your name and certificate number
   3. Your employer mails it to you
   4. The training company's completion certificate is the state certificate

   Answer: B. You download it from SCDOR with your name and certificate number

   You download it at dor.sc.gov/AlcoholServerCertificate, usually within two weeks of passing. The completion certificate your training company gives you isn't the state certificate. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

9. 9Which training counts toward a South Carolina alcohol server certificate?

   1. Any online alcohol awareness course from a national company
   2. A server certificate earned in another state
   3. A program on SCDOR's approved server training list
   4. Any program on SCDOR's penalty mitigation list

   Answer: C. A program on SCDOR's approved server training list

   SCDOR issues certificates only to people who complete an approved program (§ 61-3-130(B)). Its separate penalty mitigation list serves a different purpose, and it hasn't set up a way to accept other states' certificates. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

10. 10How old do you have to be to work as a bartender in South Carolina?

    1. 19
    2. 18
    3. 21
    4. 16

    Answer: C. 21

    Servers must be at least 18, but the law doesn't allow bartenders under 21 (§ 61-6-2200). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

11. 11A 19-year-old server may carry a cocktail to a table when:

    1. An employee who is at least 21 mixed or poured it
    2. Never; every server must be at least 21
    3. A manager is somewhere in the building at the time
    4. The customer is over 30 and has already shown a valid ID

    Answer: A. An employee who is at least 21 mixed or poured it

    SCDOR says servers aged 18 to 20 may serve drinks that an employee who is at least 21 has mixed, poured, or prepared. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

12. 12Under SCDOR's penalty guidelines, who pays the $500 penalty when someone serves alcohol without approved training?

    1. The business that holds the permit or license
    2. The training company the server should have used
    3. The server who poured the drink
    4. The manager on duty that shift

    Answer: A. The business that holds the permit or license

    SCDOR's guidelines put the training penalties on the permit or license holder: $500 per violation for letting someone serve without approved training, and $100 for missing certificate copies. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

Checking IDs

13. 13Today is October 10, 2026. A customer must have been born on or before which date to buy alcohol?

    1. October 11, 2005
    2. October 10, 2005
    3. October 10, 2004
    4. October 10, 2008

    Answer: B. October 10, 2005

    Subtract 21 years from today's date. Anyone born on or before October 10, 2005, is at least 21 on October 10, 2026. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

14. 14You sell a beer to a 20-year-old without asking for ID. How does the law treat your failure to ask?

    1. As a defense if they looked over 21
    2. It doesn't matter if they paid cash
    3. As evidence of the violation
    4. As a house-policy issue only

    Answer: C. As evidence of the violation

    Failing to require ID to verify age is "prima facie evidence" of the violation (§§ 61-4-50(B) and 61-6-4080(B)). SCDOR wants servers to check IDs every time, however old the customer looks. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

15. 15How can you spot a newer South Carolina license or ID card issued to someone under 21?

    1. It says MINOR in large letters on the back
    2. It has no photo, only the date of birth
    3. It's vertical and marked "UNDER 21"
    4. It has a red border and a red photo background

    Answer: C. It's vertical and marked "UNDER 21"

    In the card design SCDMV introduced in 2025, under-21 cards are vertical and marked "UNDER 21," with a "U21 UNTIL" date, the day the holder turns 21. Cards for people 21 and older are horizontal. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

16. 16A customer shows a vertical South Carolina ID, but the date of birth shows they turned 21 last month. What decides whether they're old enough?

    1. Whether they have a second ID
    2. The layout; vertical cards are never accepted
    3. Whether SCDMV confirms it by phone
    4. The date of birth on the card

    Answer: D. The date of birth on the card

    SCDMV says older cards stay valid until they expire, so someone who just turned 21 may still carry a vertical card. The date of birth decides. (College sporting venues are the exception: they may not sell beer or wine to anyone showing a vertical ID.) Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

17. 17You think a customer's ID is fake. May you keep it?

    1. Yes, until the customer leaves the building
    2. Yes, and mail it to SCDMV the next day
    3. Yes, if a manager agrees
    4. No; SLED says not to keep it

    Answer: D. No; SLED says not to keep it

    SLED's alcohol enforcement FAQ answers "No" when asked whether an employee may keep the ID of someone suspected of being underage or using a fake. Refuse the sale and follow your house policy. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

18. 18Since January 1, 2026, what must a bar that sells drinks between midnight and 4 a.m. do?

    1. Stop letting new customers in after 1 a.m. and close by 2 a.m.
    2. Check IDs only for customers who look under 30
    3. Switch to serving only beer and wine after midnight
    4. Scan each customer's ID at the door with an approved scanner

    Answer: D. Scan each customer's ID at the door with an approved scanner

    A business selling alcohol for on-premises consumption at any time between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. must use a forensic digital ID system to validate the ID of anyone entering as a patron (§ 61-2-145(F)). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

19. 19Where does a bar or restaurant post the state sign warning that under-21 possession of alcohol is a crime?

    1. Nowhere; the sign is optional for bars
    2. In the restrooms, at eye level
    3. Behind the bar, in letters at least half an inch tall
    4. At the front door, in letters at least one inch tall

    Answer: C. Behind the bar, in letters at least half an inch tall

    Section 61-4-70 requires the sign, and Reg. 7-200.5 says on-premises businesses post it in a conspicuous place behind the bar, in lettering no smaller than one-half inch. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

Minors and penalties

20. 20What is the penalty for a server's first conviction for selling beer to someone under 21?

    1. A $200–$300 fine and/or up to 30 days, plus a merchant program
    2. A $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail, with no exceptions
    3. A written warning, with no fine for a first offense
    4. Loss of your own driver's license for a full year

    Answer: A. A $200–$300 fine and/or up to 30 days, plus a merchant program

    A first offense carries a fine of $200 to $300, up to 30 days, or both, and the seller must complete a state-approved merchant alcohol education program of at least two hours (§ 61-4-50). Liquor has the same penalties (§ 61-6-4080). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

21. 21An employee of a beer and wine permit holder knowingly sells to a minor. What fine must SCDOR impose on the business for a first offense?

    1. $500
    2. $2,500
    3. None for a first offense
    4. $100

    Answer: B. $2,500

    Since January 1, 2026, a first offense under § 61-4-580 brings a $2,500 fine. A second within two years brings a suspension of up to 14 days, and a third within three years brings revocation. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

22. 22During a police compliance check, a 19-year-old working with officers buys a beer from you. What does the law say about charges?

    1. Only the 19-year-old can be charged
    2. No one can be charged because it was a test
    3. You can be charged without the 19-year-old being charged
    4. The 19-year-old must be charged too, or you can't be

    Answer: C. You can be charged without the 19-year-old being charged

    Police may use people under 21, with a parent's consent and under direct supervision, to test compliance, and then the seller can be charged without the minor also being charged (§ 61-4-100(D)). Outside these checks, when a seller is charged, the minor must be charged too. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

23. 23A customer buys a beer at the bar and hands it to their 20-year-old friend. Who broke the law?

    1. Only the bartender who poured the beer
    2. Both the customer who bought it and the friend
    3. No one, as long as the friend is sitting with a parent
    4. No one, because beer isn't covered by the law

    Answer: B. Both the customer who bought it and the friend

    Buying beer or wine on licensed premises and giving it to someone who can't lawfully buy it is a crime (§ 61-4-80), and so is underage possession (§ 63-19-2440). The business can also be cited for letting someone under 21 drink there (Reg. 7-200.4). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

24. 24What happens to the driver's license of someone under 21 convicted for the first time of buying or having alcohol?

    1. It's suspended for 7 days
    2. It's suspended for 120 days
    3. It's revoked for life
    4. Nothing; it's not a driving offense

    Answer: B. It's suspended for 120 days

    SCDMV must suspend the license for 120 days for a first conviction and for one year for a second (§ 56-1-746). The same goes for lying about age or using a fake or borrowed ID. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

25. 25A college student is convicted of a second alcohol-related misdemeanor. Which scholarships can they lose for one academic year?

    1. None, as long as their grades stay up
    2. LIFE, HOPE, and Palmetto Fellows
    3. Only athletic scholarships
    4. Only scholarships at private colleges

    Answer: B. LIFE, HOPE, and Palmetto Fellows

    A second alcohol- or drug-related misdemeanor makes a student ineligible for these state scholarships until one academic year has passed (§§ 59-149-90, 59-104-20, and 59-150-370). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

Intoxication

26. 26South Carolina law says a business and its staff may not knowingly sell alcohol to:

    1. Anyone who arrived by car
    2. Anyone who isn't eating
    3. Anyone who has had two drinks
    4. A person who is intoxicated

    Answer: D. A person who is intoxicated

    Knowingly selling beer or wine (§ 61-4-580(A)(2)) or liquor (§ 61-6-2220) to an intoxicated person is prohibited. A beer and wine permit holder faces the same $2,500, suspension, and revocation steps as for underage sales. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

27. 27You took a medication that leaves you drowsy and unsteady. May you work a shift serving alcohol?

    1. Yes, if you only serve beer and wine
    2. Yes, if a manager says it's okay
    3. Yes, as long as the medicine was prescribed to you
    4. No; you can't serve while impaired by drugs

    Answer: D. No; you can't serve while impaired by drugs

    An alcohol server "shall not be mentally or physically impaired or intoxicated by alcohol, drugs, or controlled substances while serving alcohol" (§ 61-3-110(A)). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

28. 28SCDOR wants servers to understand that refusing a sale to someone under 21 or intoxicated is:

    1. Needed only late at night, after the kitchen has closed
    2. The manager's job, not something servers decide on
    3. More important than making the sale
    4. Optional when the customer is a regular you know well

    Answer: C. More important than making the sale

    SCDOR's checklist for approved courses says servers should understand that avoiding sales to underage or intoxicated people is more important than making a sale or customer satisfaction. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

29. 29As blood alcohol rises, which effects usually show up first, according to the SC Department of Public Safety?

    1. Staggering, slurred speech, and slower reaction times
    2. Relaxation, lower inhibitions, and poorer judgment
    3. Memory blackouts and loss of consciousness
    4. Unconsciousness, slow breathing, and possible death

    Answer: B. Relaxation, lower inhibitions, and poorer judgment

    SCDPS lists relaxation, loss of inhibition, lowered alertness, and impaired judgment and coordination at the lowest levels. Staggering and slurred speech come at higher BACs, so judgment is affected well before a customer looks drunk. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

30. 30A customer is confused, can't stay awake, and is breathing slowly. What should you do?

    1. Let them sleep it off in a booth
    2. Call 911 right away
    3. Ask a friend to drive them home
    4. Bring a glass of water and keep watching

    Answer: B. Call 911 right away

    NIAAA lists confusion, trouble staying conscious, and slow breathing among the danger signs of alcohol overdose, and says to call 911 right away. A person who has passed out can die. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

Alcohol and the body

31. 31Which drink has about the same amount of alcohol as a 12-ounce regular beer (5%)?

    1. A 5-ounce pour of 80-proof spirits
    2. A 12-ounce glass of red or white wine
    3. A 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof spirits
    4. A 24-ounce tall can of regular beer

    Answer: C. A 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof spirits

    One standard drink is 12 ounces of 5% beer, 5 ounces of 12% wine, or 1.5 ounces of 40% (80-proof) spirits, according to NIAAA. A 12-ounce beer at 10% counts as two. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

32. 32A woman and a man of the same weight drink the same amount. Whose BAC will usually be higher?

    1. The man's
    2. They'll always be the same
    3. The woman's
    4. Whoever drank beer

    Answer: C. The woman's

    NIAAA says that when a woman and a man of the same weight drink the same amount, the woman's BAC will tend to be higher. Age, tolerance, speed of drinking, medications, and food also play a part. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

33. 33A customer finished their last drink 20 minutes ago. What can happen to their BAC?

    1. It stays the same until they eat
    2. It resets after 15 minutes
    3. It drops right away
    4. It can keep rising

    Answer: D. It can keep rising

    Alcohol still in the stomach and intestine keeps entering the bloodstream, so BAC can continue to rise after someone stops drinking (NIAAA). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

34. 34What does NIAAA say about coffee, cold showers, or walking for someone who has had far too much to drink?

    1. None of them reverse the effects
    2. A cold shower lowers BAC within minutes
    3. Walking it off burns the alcohol faster
    4. Coffee sobers a person up in 15 minutes

    Answer: A. None of them reverse the effects

    NIAAA warns that cold showers, hot coffee, and walking do not reverse the effects of an alcohol overdose and could make things worse. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

35. 35A customer mentions they took a prescription painkiller. Why does it matter?

    1. The drug can multiply alcohol's effects
    2. Only illegal drugs mix badly with alcohol
    3. It doesn't matter if the drug is prescribed
    4. Medicine makes alcohol weaker, so they can drink more

    Answer: A. The drug can multiply alcohol's effects

    SCDMV's Driver's Manual warns that prescription and over-the-counter drugs can multiply the effects of alcohol, and NIAAA says drinking while taking medicines can intensify effects like drowsiness. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

Impaired driving

36. 36For drivers 21 and older, what BAC makes driving a regular car a crime in itself in South Carolina?

    1. 0.08 or more
    2. 0.10 or more
    3. 0.12 or more
    4. 0.15 or more

    Answer: A. 0.08 or more

    Driving with a BAC of 0.08 or more is a separate crime (§ 56-5-2933). A driver can still be convicted of DUI below 0.08 if alcohol has materially and appreciably impaired their driving (§ 56-5-2930). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

37. 37A driver under 21 loses their license for at least three months at what BAC?

    1. 0.08
    2. 0.10
    3. 0.02
    4. 0.05

    Answer: C. 0.02

    A driver under 21 with a BAC of 0.02 or more has their license suspended for at least three months (§ 56-1-286). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

38. 38A driver arrested for DUI refuses a breath test for the first time. What happens to their license?

    1. It's revoked for life
    2. It's suspended for one week
    3. It's suspended for six months
    4. Nothing, because refusing is their right

    Answer: C. It's suspended for six months

    Under the implied consent law, every driver has agreed to testing, and a first refusal brings a six-month license suspension (§§ 56-5-2950 and 56-5-2951). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

39. 39In 2024, about how often did someone die in a South Carolina crash involving a driver at 0.08 BAC or higher?

    1. About once a year
    2. About every 21 hours
    3. About once a week
    4. About once a month

    Answer: B. About every 21 hours

    SCDPS's 2024 Traffic Collision Fact Book reports one death in a DUI 0.08+ collision every 21.1 hours (preliminary federal data): 417 deaths, 40% of the state's traffic deaths. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

40. 40According to SCDPS, how much more likely is a driver at 0.08 BAC to crash than a sober driver?

    1. About 2 times
    2. About 100 times
    3. About 7 times
    4. No more likely

    Answer: C. About 7 times

    SCDPS says a driver at 0.08 is seven times more likely to crash than at zero BAC, and 25 times more likely at 0.15. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

Hours and drink rules

41. 41Liquor by the drink can never be sold in South Carolina between which hours?

    1. 1 a.m. and 8 a.m.
    2. Midnight and 6 a.m.
    3. 2 a.m. and 10 a.m.
    4. 3 a.m. and 9 a.m.

    Answer: C. 2 a.m. and 10 a.m.

    Liquor by the drink is sold from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., and a restaurant, bar, or hotel may not sell liquor or let anyone drink it on the premises between 2 a.m. and 10 a.m. on any day (§ 61-6-1610). Sunday sales, including midnight to 2 a.m. after a Saturday night, also need a Local Option Permit. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

42. 42Where Sunday sales haven't been approved locally, when is it illegal to sell beer and wine?

    1. Never
    2. From midnight Saturday until sunrise Monday
    3. After 10 p.m. every night
    4. From 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. every day of the week

    Answer: B. From midnight Saturday until sunrise Monday

    Section 61-4-120 bans beer and wine sales from 12 midnight Saturday until sunrise Monday. Sunday sales are possible only where the county or city has approved them, and even then never from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

43. 43Which drink special is legal in South Carolina?

    1. Two-for-one drinks from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    2. Free drinks for everyone on Fridays
    3. Half-price drinks from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    4. Drinks at a third of the regular price

    Answer: C. Half-price drinks from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

    Drinks may not be free, two-for-one, or less than half the regular price, and reduced prices are allowed only from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. (§§ 61-4-160 and 61-6-4550). Half price is the lowest allowed. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

44. 44Which of these is banned at a South Carolina bar?

    1. A live band playing until 2 a.m.
    2. A drinking game that rewards drinking fast
    3. A trivia night where the prize is a free appetizer
    4. Free soft drink refills

    Answer: B. A drinking game that rewards drinking fast

    Drinking contests and games that encourage people to drink at extraordinary speed, in larger amounts, or in stronger form are banned (§§ 61-4-580(A)(7) and 61-6-2230). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

45. 45A bar refills empty name-brand liquor bottles with cheaper liquor. What can happen?

    1. A $25 fine and no other penalty
    2. Permanent loss of its liquor license
    3. Nothing, as long as customers don't notice
    4. A warning letter from SCDOR

    Answer: B. Permanent loss of its liquor license

    Refilling or tampering with a liquor bottle is a crime, having a refilled bottle is evidence of it, and a convicted licensee loses the license permanently (§ 61-6-1610). Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

46. 46May a business with a liquor-by-the-drink license sell a whole bottle of liquor to a table (bottle service)?

    1. Yes, for groups of six or more people
    2. Yes, but only after 10 p.m. on weekends
    3. Yes, if the bottle stays sealed at the table
    4. No, bottle service isn't allowed

    Answer: D. No, bottle service isn't allowed

    SLED's alcohol enforcement FAQ answers "No" when asked whether a liquor-by-the-drink licensee can sell whole bottles to customers. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

47. 47A customer pulls up to your take-out window and asks for a six-pack without getting out of the car. What's the rule?

    1. It's fine if the beer stays sealed in its packaging
    2. It's fine if they show a valid ID through the window
    3. You can't sell beer to someone who stays in the car
    4. It's fine before 10 p.m. on weekdays

    Answer: C. You can't sell beer to someone who stays in the car

    Regulation 7-702.5 bars selling or delivering beer or wine to anyone who remains in a motor vehicle during the sale, which rules out drive-thru and curbside sales. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

Guns and liability

48. 48A customer is lawfully carrying a handgun in a restaurant that doesn't ban guns. What's the rule?

    1. They may stay but can't drink alcohol
    2. They must leave right away
    3. They may have up to two drinks
    4. They must hand the gun to the bartender

    Answer: A. They may stay but can't drink alcohol

    Since March 2024, a person lawfully carrying a gun, with or without a permit, may enter a business that serves alcohol but may not drink there while carrying (§ 16-23-465). Breaking the rule can bring a fine of up to $2,000, up to two years, or both. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

49. 49How can a bar ban concealable weapons on its premises?

    1. Mention it on the menu or website
    2. Tell regular customers about the policy once a year
    3. It can't; only the state decides where guns are allowed
    4. Post the state's required sign at each entrance

    Answer: D. Post the state's required sign at each entrance

    A business may ban concealable weapons by posting the state's "NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED" sign, in the form § 23-31-235 sets, at each entrance (§ 16-23-465(B)(2)). It can also ask a person to leave or to take the weapon off the premises. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

50. 50A concealed weapons permit holder is convicted of drinking in a bar while carrying. What happens to the permit?

    1. It's revoked for five years
    2. It's suspended for 30 days
    3. Nothing; drinking isn't a permit issue
    4. It's revoked for six months

    Answer: A. It's revoked for five years

    Besides the fine and possible jail time, someone who violates § 16-23-465 while carrying under a concealed weapons permit has the permit revoked for five years. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

51. 51Since 2026, when a jury finds against both a bar and a customer it served who was charged with DUI, how much of the injured person's actual damages is the bar liable for?

    1. 10%
    2. None; only the driver pays
    3. 50%
    4. 100%

    Answer: C. 50%

    Under § 61-2-147, added by the 2025 server training law, the licensee in that situation is jointly and severally liable for 50% of the plaintiff's actual damages. Review this in the South Carolina alcohol server guide

How the real exam works

You take an SCDOR-approved course online. It runs at least four hours, in English or Spanish, and ends with an exam watched by an online proctor, usually through your webcam. Each program sets its own passing score and retake rules; the ones we checked ask for 70% or 80%. When you pass, the program gives you a certificate number and reports you to SCDOR, and you download your state certificate from SCDOR, usually within two weeks. Our South Carolina alcohol server guide covers who needs the certificate, the 30-day deadline, and what the course costs.

These are our own practice questions, written from South Carolina's statutes and regulations, SCDOR and SLED guidance, SCDMV and SCDPS publications, and federal guidance on how alcohol affects the body. FoodHandlerGear isn't affiliated with the South Carolina Department of Revenue or any training provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these the real South Carolina alcohol server exam questions?

No. Each approved program writes its own exam, and the exams aren't public. These practice questions cover the subjects South Carolina law requires every approved course to teach, so if you can explain these answers, you're ready.

What score do I need to pass the South Carolina alcohol server exam?

It depends on the program. The law requires a passing grade set by each program, and the approved programs we checked ask for 70% or 80%. Check your program's rules, including how many tries you get, before you start.

Can I take the course and exam in Spanish?

Yes. Every approved program has to be available in English and Spanish. Our South Carolina guide is also in Spanish.

Do I need a webcam for the exam?

Most likely. The law requires an online proctor for every test, and SCDOR says proctoring may use your webcam, microphone, and screen. Check your program's requirements before you start.