Each Retail Food store location must have at least one Designated Manager. This trained and permitted Designated Manager is the only person allowed to order wine for that location.

Designated Managers are registered with wine purveyors through the TABC. TopShelf suggests you have at least 2 Designated Managers so you can always be assured you’ll have someone on site to make orders.

A Manager Permit is a 5-year Permit issued by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage (TABC). Although the permit says valid for 5 years, managers must complete both the Responsible Vendor and Designated Manager courses annually.

At this time, the TABC charges a $50.00 non-refundable application fee plus your course fees. Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements before applying. If the TABC contacts you via email to make corrections or upload additional documentation, you will have 30 days to do so or you will lose your application fee and will have to start the application process over.

The training will be the cost of the Designated Manager course and the Responsible Wine Vendor Course combined.

You will need to log on to https://www.tn.gov/abc/

• Go to Permitting
• Choose Designated Manager
• Click on RLPS in blue
• follow the prompts to complete your application

This is your personal RLPS account. You will need to discuss with your corporate office how they want to handle your application fee.

You will need:

• personal email
• PDF or JPEG of your valid photo ID
• Responsible Vendor training certificate
• Designated Manager training certificate

You will upload these when prompted by the RLPS.

Your RLPS account is your account and you always want to have access to your manager permit. If you should leave your current company and go to another, you will not have access to your previous company email.

Once everything has been uploaded and the application is complete, this process should take around 2-4 business days.

Watch your email! The TABC will email you instructions on how to access your Manager Permit from your RLPS account on the TABC’s website.  If there are any problems with your application, the TABC will email you with questions or requests for information.

TABC Help Desk:  615-532-2297          or            tabc_rlps.technical@tn.gov

You will need to have a copy of it in the store, along with a copy of your RV Training Certificate and DM Training Certificate. Make sure you also have copies of all employee records. The TABC will look at all of this when they come to audit or do a license renewal.

TABC Help Desk:  615-532-2297          or            tabc_rlps.technical@tn.gov