Who is generally held responsible if a server sells alcohol to a minor?

In most jurisdictions, the individual server or seller who makes an illegal sale to a minor can be held personally responsible — facing fines, criminal charges, and loss of their certification — and the business (licensee) can also face penalties up to suspension or loss of its license. This personal accountability is why responsible-beverage-service training stresses careful ID checking. Claiming the sale was accidental is generally not a defense if reasonable steps to verify age were not taken.