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5Course Teaches Safe Alcohol Serving Techniques
A nationally recognized free course to teach bar and restaurant employees how to serve alcohol responsibly is the newest effort in EmPoWER Somerset’s SIPS (Somerset’s Initiative for Partying Safely) campaign to fight alcohol abuse.
The goal of the Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM) program is to train alcohol servers to balance the responsible sale of alcoholic beverages with service to their customers.
"The mission of Somerset’s Initiative for Partying Safely is to reduce the harmful consequences of alcohol in the 18- to 25-year-old population. By educating our fellow merchants, owners and servers within liquor establishments we move closer to achieving our goal," said Lauren Greenberg, SIPS program director.
The three-hour course, taught nationwide, covers such topics as the clinical effects of alcohol, laws regulating the serving of alcohol, ways to identify levels of intoxication, how to identify a false identification card and strategies to handle customer disturbances.
Bonnie Petrock, of Petrock’s in Hillsborough, the vice president of the New Jersey Licensed Beverage Association which teaches the course, is a strong advocate for the course. "It’s something every bar and restaurant should take advantage of," said Petrock, who has been active in the SIPS campaign. "I think it’s really important." Petrock said her establishment receives a reduction in insurance premiums because staffers complete the course.
"EmPoWER Somerset and SIPS are appreciative of the positive community response as well as the willingness to support us in our efforts," Greenberg said, adding she was grateful for Alfonso’s in Somerville agreeing to host the program in its catering area.
Karrie Werther, bar manager at Alfonso’s, said she was more than happy for the restaurant to host the program. "I think it’s great for all the bars and restaurants around here to work together," she said.
Though the training is now voluntary, Werther said she believes that in the future, the training will be mandatory. There now are 28 states that require certification, but New Jersey is not one of them.
To become TAM certified, participants, must attend the three-hour course and pass a 20-question exam with a score of 75 percent or higher. The certification card is valid for four years.
Two sessions of this free, three-hour TAM training are currently being offered:
10:00 am to 1:00 pm on November 30, 2010
10:00 am to 1:00 pm on December 7, 2010
Trainings will take place at Alfonso’s Restaurant located at 99-101 West Main Street, Somerville, NJ 08876.
