We all want to be good neighbors. As a business selling and serving alcohol in Westbrook, your willing participation in keeping our neighborhoods healthy and safe is considered, by many, to be business at its finest. It has been a difficult and challenging year to say the least, but as we head into the summer there is an upbeat, hopeful feeling in the air. The feeling of being able to get back out to enjoy family and friends again is energizing. Since the pandemic started, we have seen an uptick in alcohol use, misuse, and OUIs in our state and across the nation.
To prevent alcohol violations and to provide “Best Practices” when it comes to your sellers, servers, and third-party delivery services, here are a few things we recommend you can do to prevent violations and criminal/civil suits:
- Work together as a team to prevent alcohol-related deaths, injuries, and damages.
- Attend a Maine State Certified Responsible Beverage (RBS) training for you and your staff offered by WPFP.
- Create or update your “Best Practice” service policy and train your employees to reduce underage drinking, recognize Visibly Intoxicated People (VIPs), and to check for fake IDs. We can assist you with your Policy!
- Support the youth-driven “Sticker Shock” program to educate retail customers about the law and consequences of purchasing alcohol for minors.
Janet Dosseva, MPH, PS-C, Program Director of Westbrook Partners for Prevention, shares: “We want to help you as sellers-servers of alcohol to keep your business compliant with Maine liquor laws and to keep your patrons and the broader community safe by covering the topics which the State and current research say are most important. We intend to help people selling/serving alcohol understand how the product they are selling impacts individuals’ bodies and behaviors, to familiarize folks with Maine state liquor laws, and to help businesses reduce their chances of illegally selling to someone who is too young or too intoxicated. By working together, we can keep Westbrook healthy and safe.”
For more information on resources available to you, contact Westbrook Partners for Prevention at: partnersforprevention@westbrookschools.org
Helping to protect your business and limit your liability.
