CITIZENS RALLYING FOR CHANGE ON ALCOHOL

Every year, our families and friends look forward to our community festivals.  These events are always a community highlight. 

However, I'd like to express my concerns about alcohol sales/availability and the risks of underage drinking at these upcoming festivals and other community events where alcohol is present.

It's clear that many aspects of these events are planned very carefully.  I would like to encourage all of the sponsoring organizations to give equal thought and effort to preventing underage drinking at these events.  Why?  Because underage drinking is associated with car crashes, vandalism, assaults, date rape and many other tragedies. Organizations who sponsor our community events can be held liable for any tragedies that occur as a result of underage drinking at these events.

Let's work together to keep alcohol out of the hands of kids at our community festivals and celebrations. Event sponsors and organizers can institute a plan to ensure the safe sale of alcohol by implementing the following action steps:

1. Check ID of those appearing under 30;
2. Sell alcohol in enclosed areas;
3. Limit number of servings to 1 per person;
4. Use wristbands to identify those over 21;
5. Use distinguishable cups for alcohol;
6. Limit beer cup size to 12 oz.;
7. Offer and promote food and non-alcoholic beverages;
8. Stop alcohol sales 1 hour before end of event;
9. Do not discount alcohol;
10. Train servers on responsible service of alcohol;
11. Restrict age of servers to over 21;
12. Hire adequate security;
13. Have manager/lead worker always on duty;
14. Do not allow servers to drink before or during shift;
15. Provide copy of policy manual;
16. Use incident report form;
17. Hold pre-shift meetings to discuss policies;
18. Monitor grounds for suspicious activity;
19. Limit alcohol industry sponsorship/promotions;
20. Require dramshop liability insurance;
21. Do not allow alcohol in parking lot;
22. Post warning signs;