By
Erika Malzberg, Monster Contributing Writer
Serving drinks may seem glamorous and fun, but it's also serious business. When alcohol is involved, people -- and situations -- can sometimes get out of hand.
That's where alcohol-awareness training programs come in. These programs educate servers about responsible alcohol consumption and offer strategies for protecting guests, employers and the servers themselves.
This training may also help you further your career as a bartender or server.
What You Will Learn
Alcohol-awareness training programs detail the physiological effects of alcohol and offer important information about legal liability. Through role-play and other activities, you'll practice using behavioral cues to assess intoxication levels in guests. You'll also learn appropriate intervention strategies for dealing with intoxicated guests so you may defuse potentially dangerous situations before they escalate.
Legal Protection
Alcohol-awareness training is often used by establishments to get lower insurance rates and as a sound defense in the face of any legal action taken against them. But it has also become increasingly important for servers to protect themselves. Due to draw-shop liability laws, servers themselves can be held responsible for any harm that intoxicated or underage guests perpetrate on themselves or others. So it is important for bartenders to be aware of their liability and to protect themselves professionally and personally through this training.
Professional Advantages
Do you feel capable of handling intoxicated guests? Even if you do, you may still benefit from alcohol-awareness training.
But training isn't just for those who are currently employed. If you're looking for work, an alcohol-awareness certification may be the boost you need to get yourself hired.
Suzanne Cosgrove of Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS), an alcohol-awareness training program, claims that being TIPS-certified "makes employees more marketable," because "an interested employer doesn't have to make the investment [of time and money]" to provide this training. This is especially true in regulated states.
Some companies will require you to participate in their own training programs, even if you already have your own certification. But a potential employer might be impressed by your willingness to pursue independent training in this area, and this might help to give you an edge over the competition.
Get Started
Every state has its own laws regarding the serving of alcohol, so you'll need to check with your local liquor-control board to find out what training is required. Most certifications will last at least one year, after which they may be renewed (depending on the certifying organization).
Many large companies offer their own required training programs in-house. For bartenders-in-training, bartending schools often offer these programs as well. Check with the American Bartending Association (ABA) for a list of schools. You may also consult independent training companies, such as TIPS.
Getting certified may help you secure the job you want and, more importantly, it may help you ensure that any guests you serve have a good -- and safe -- time.