America's Beer Distributors

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J. J. Taylor Distributing Company of Minnesota, Inc. continued its ongoing efforts to promote social responsibility and safety by hosting a free Alcohol Server Training seminar for its retail partners.  The event was advertised on the company’s Web site as well as in the distributor’s monthly e-mail to retailers.

The three-hour training was conducted by Bob Pomplin, the owner of Loss Control Prevention.  It focused on all aspects of selling and serving alcoholic beverages, from the prevention of underage drinking and overconsumption to how to handle any issues that arise. 

Specific topics covered by the course include:

• Alcohol awareness, effects of blood alcohol content and signs of impairment
• Server responsibilities, unwanted behavior assessment, duty of care and drinking as a privilege
• Carding steps and when and why to check IDs
• Intervention methods and techniques
• Minnesota alcohol laws, valid Minnesota identification procedures and techniques

The seminar offered attendees advice that they could immediately put into practice.  Some of these ideas included examples of proper people skills, the benefits of talking to customers to evaluate their condition, different ways of identifying false id’s, what to do when a customer appears intoxicated, good phrases to use when attempting to diffuse trouble situations and the difference between “house rules” and “the laws.”  

One student in the class was especially grateful to be learning “the little nuances [like] things that are changing on IDs.”  Another restaurant server thought the class was most useful for reminding her to pay closer attention to the phrasing used with customers and also the best ways to “establish control of any situation.”

“JJ Taylor Minnesota is committed to the responsible sale and use of the products we sell,” said President and General Manager Mike Bamonti.  “This event was highly successful and we look forward to offering similar programs in the future.”

America’s beer distributors sponsor numerous community initiatives – like free taxi ride homes and educational speakers in local schools – and work with local law enforcement to help make sure state alcohol laws are enforced.  To learn more about these efforts, visit www.DistributorResponsibility.com.