According to the US Department of Transportation, Texas leads the nation in drunken driving fatalities, with 1354 deaths in 2006, up from 34 in 2005. While 22 other states increased in fatalities as well, there were 28 states where the numbers fell. Runners up for the leading state behind Texas were Arizona and Kansas while DC and Puerto Rico were the lowest ranking states.
This news reiterates the dire need for responsible service of alcohol standards to be in place in all establishments where alcohol is served. “Without proper standards in place for training, Texas servers are blindly making important decisions. Even though training is not mandated for servers, servers should have a personal desire to ensure that they are protecting the customer not only in their establishment, but on the road as well,” states Joy Sisson, TABC trainer for Learn2Serve.com. “Most servers are not aware that they are liable for what happens once that customer leaves their bar. If the customer is involved in a fatal accident, the police will come back to the bartender and possibly file charges.”
Beyond the bartender’s responsibilities, mangers nationwide need to take a more active approach to ensuring that their servers are trained. Recently, Learn2Serve partnered with the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association to create a course specifically for managers entitled “The ABCs of New York’s ABC Laws.” The course gives owners an understanding of their duties and responsibilities under the New York State Alcohol Beverage Control Law. The program provides detailed guidance on the steps a licensee can take to ensure they operate in compliance with the law.
Learn2Serve encourages individuals who wish to drink to take the necessary steps to ensure that they have a safe ride home. Call a cab, carpool or simply drink responsibly in your own home so that you do not get behind the wheel after you have been drinking. It simply is not worth your life or someone else’s.
