Alcohol Server Training
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Alcohol Server Training is a form of occupational education typically provided to servers, sellers and consumers of alcohol to prevent intoxication, drunk driving and underage drinking. Usually underwritten by employers in the hospitality, food-service and related industries, this training is regulated and mandated by state and local laws predominantly in North America, and increasingly in other English-speaking countries ie. Australian Responsible Serving of Alcohol (RSA) training [1]. In North America the primary purpose of this employee-training is to mitigate liability during a lawsuit involving intoxication by providing evidence of intent on the part of the establishment that serves and sells alcoholic beverages - a "reasonable efforts defense."
Secondarily, this training is considered effective in reducing incidences of overserving patrons to the point of intoxication, and in preventing sales to minors. For the establishment paying for this training, the most immediate tangible benefit is a reduction in liquor liability insurance premiums paid by all organizations serving or selling alcoholic beverages. Another benefit is regulatory compliance. Increasingly in the United States (for example, in the States of Tennessee, Texas and Louisiana), licenses or permits to serve or sell alcoholic beverages are contingent on obtaining this form of training for employees.
In Australia the primary purposes for Responsible Serving of Alcohol (RSA) [2] training is to minimise self harm of drinkers and reduce associated impacts on others i.e. drunk driving accidents, assaults, domestic violence, and financial problems.
[edit] Obtaining training
In the United States, this training is taught by a wide range of educational providers, from individuals to the state. The cost, quality and content of training varies widely from program to program, and from state to state. The term "Alcohol Server Training", as a consequence, is often an umbrella attached to the overall intent of the training, if nothing else. This training usually carries some testing and certification, related to local state regulations, but few programs are provided nationally to any standard.
See Australia's, Victorian Government RSA training plan for an example at [3]
[edit] Example programs
- AlcoholCert Training - A program developed with sound instructional design and appropriate technologies that meets or exceeds the requirements of multiple State's alcohol training requirements
- $8 Alcohol Server Training - Teaching those who serve and/or sell alcohol how to do so responsibly.
- ServSafe Alcohol — A program of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
- Responsible Serving of Alcohol (RSA) - Australia's, Victorian Government.
- S.M.A.R.T. (Servers & Managers Alcohol Responsibility Training)
- Serving Alcohol Inc - provides training and knowledge sharing for alcohol serving establishments.
- Smart Serve Ontario — a division of the Hospitality Industry Training Organization of Ontario (HITOO)
- S.T.O.P. (Server Training on Premise)
- TAM (Techniques of Alcohol Management)
- T.I.P.S. (Training for Intervention Procedures by Servers of alcohol) — Nine different programs focusing on different environments and needs.
- Alcohol Safety Institute of America Online alcohol seller/server training certification in various US states.
- California ServeSMART - State approved RBS program providing training throughout all of California.
