Serving alcohol is a significant responsibility that goes beyond merely pouring drinks. It involves ensuring the safety and well-being of patrons and, by extension, the general public, seeing as how cases of drunk driving and similar incidents lead to traumatic injuries and even death.
In truth, statistics show that alcohol-impaired driving causes not less than 10,000 deaths each year. That’s where both responsible alcohol service and server training come in. But what should you know about alcohol server training? Read on to learn more.
What’s Alcohol Server Training?
Alcohol server training is formal education for bar and restaurant staff who handle and serve alcoholic drinks. It’s available either online or in-person and is often brief, requiring as little as an hour or two, depending on the course content. Even when brief, this course is essential for your business.
In truth, it’s mandatory in approximately 20 states. But that’s not all. It’s also incentivized in 23 more states and is considered worthwhile in all 50. A top-quality Alcohol Awareness Training program offered by a leading provider like RocketCert equips you or your team with invaluable information and skills for serving alcoholic beverages as responsibly as possible.
What Should This Course Include?
Different alcohol server training programs from different providers will have varying course content.
Either way, here’s what your course should typically cover:
1. Applicable laws and regulations regarding the sale of alcohol
2. Age verification and everything surrounding that
3. The physiology of alcohol intoxication and how alcohol affects humans
4. Recognizing the signs of intoxication
5. Intervention strategies and refusing service
6. Liabilities of the alcohol server
7. Licensee policies and the role of an employee in observing such policies
8. The effect of alcohol on pregnancy
9. Serving hours and licensing
10. Measuring alcohol accurately
Some alcohol training courses will even focus on just the two crucial areas of responsible beverage service: intoxication awareness and age restrictions. With no hard-and-fast guidelines about the course content of alcohol server training programs, expect the topics to vary from one provider to the next.
Age Restrictions to Keep In Mind
This is one of the most crucial topics as far as alcohol service goes. The legal drinking age typically changes from one country to the next. In the United States, the 1984 National Minimum Drinking Age Act establishes the legal drinking age as 21. In some states such as Texas, nonetheless, minors can consume alcohol legally in licensed establishments if their parent or legal guardian is there with them and consents.
Several other states allow minors to consume alcohol as long as they do so in the presence of their parents or simply at their parents’ house. Either way, alcohol server training teaches these laws and regulations to avoid confusion and enable servers to request and perform identification checks appropriately.
If working as a server, it’s paramount to follow the rules your restaurant or bar sets about serving alcohol. That’s in consideration that some establishments set a higher minimum threshold for ID checks. It’s not uncommon to find bars and restaurants that require an ID check for someone who appears 35 or younger.
Intoxication Awareness and When to Stop Serving Alcohol
In addition to the rules regarding serving alcohol to minors, most alcohol server training programs also teach you how to recognise signs of intoxication and when to deny service.
As an employee, you will learn to look out for physical indicators like slurred speech and bloodshot, glassy eyes. You will also learn about behavioural changes like excessive loudness, inappropriate behaviour, and aggressiveness. But that’s not all. You’ll also be taught about cognitive impairment signs to watch out for like delayed reactions, difficulty concentrating, and confusion.
Monitoring these signs is crucial in making the right decisions and knowing when to stop serving. The training program will also teach you the right procedure for refusing service such as being calm and firm as well as seeking support when necessary.
Foster a Culture of Responsibility With RocketCert
Alcohol server training is a vital investment for any establishment that aims to ensure responsible handling and serving of alcoholic beverages. With so much to learn and practice, you should find the absolute best training programs for yourself or your employees. That way, you will not only learn how to serve alcohol the right way but also attract more business.
RocketCert promises to make this dream a reality. With expertly written online courses that are not only easy and fun to take but also available 24/7 on almost every device you might choose to use, you will have everything you need to offer excellent services.
