Local Servers and Police Work Together To Increase Safety
Training focuses on liquor liability and safe serving environment
BAR HARBOR—It isn’t that the local police don’t want people to have a good time; it’s that they want them to have a safe time. Part of keeping safe, is preventative, explained Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Sergeant Christopher Dickens.
That’s why the department, in partnership with the Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations (BABLO) will host a Safe Server training on June 13, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Collaborations between police and fire departments and local businesses can save lives in a lot of ways.
Local servers and bartenders have been working with the fire and police departments in the past, not just about liquor liability, maintaining a safe serving environment, and customer identification verification procedures, but also, through the fire department, about things such as Narcan dispersal. At least one Bar Harbor bartender, who took a course, saved the life of a patron by using Narcan.
Narcan, which revives people overdosing from certain drugs, is a dramatic and obvious way of saving people. While the upcoming training isn’t quite as dramatic, Dickens hopes it will help keep people safe, alive, uninjured, and the establishments that serve liquor safe and free from lawsuits.
Dickens said the local business community has been very supportive. The Dog and Pony shut down for the afternoon last year so that staff could attend. Dickens, along with Sergeant Soren Sundberg specialize in the training.
“Ultimately, the BHPD is here to keep people safe. The liquor law training is a great example of how they work proactively to educate while also enforcing the laws. Our hospitality community is grateful for the PD going above and beyond to make 2024 a wonderful (and safe) year for us all,” said Bo Jennings, Side Street’s director of operations.
Fines can be up to $350,000 for establishments and servers who are found liable for liquor violations. That’s enough for many communities to have customer black lists, created by establishments. These unofficial lists are self-directed, as well, and are meant to keep communities and servers safe. People on the black list are not served alcohol.
“There’s some really conscious business owners,” Dickens said.
The legal Blood Alcohol Content limit (BAC) in Maine is .08%; people can be charged with anything over .00% if there is other evidence that shows that they are driving impaired.
According to Drunk-Driving.com, “in 2000, Maine drivers with:
· BACs of .10 and above were involved in an estimated 10,200 crashes that killed 38 and injured 3,200
· BACs between .08-.09 were involved in an estimated 200 crashes that killed 4 and injured 100
· Positive BACs below .08 were involved in an estimated 300 crashes that killed 9 and injured 300.”
That same source states that “alcohol is a factor in 23% of Maine's crash costs.”
And that the average alcohol-related fatality in Maine costs $3.7 million:·$1.1 million in monetary costs and $2.6 million in quality of life losses.”
But it’s about more than costs, Dickens said, it’s about community, about keeping people safe.
“We want people to have a good time,” he said, but they also want them to not get hurt, to be hurt, to hurt others.
By the numbers, compared to the rest of the United States, Maine is among the lowest for alcohol-related driving fatalities, according to MSN. It is the sixteenth lowest in the country.
“Drunken driving fatalities per 100k residents: 3.3 (45, 29% of all car crash fatalities),” MSN writes. “Fatalities involving driver with BAC 0.15 and above: 2.5 per 100K (35, 77.8% of all drunken driving fatalities).”
Since 2012, there’s been a 10% decrease in fatalities related to drunk driving.
TRAINING DETAILS:
The training will take place at Machias Savings Bank, located at 96 Cottage Street, and will cover such topics as: Maine liquor law, liquor liability, maintaining a safe serving environment and customer identification verification procedures. Cost will be $28.00 per attendee; participants will receive a three-year certification.
Business owners, managers, and service staff are all encouraged to attend. Please email Sergeant Chris Dickens with any questions and/or to secure a seat: cdickens@barharbormaine.gov
BABLO and Police Department staff members will remain on-hand after the training to address further questions or concerns.
STOP THE BLEED TRAINING
A “Stop the Bleed” and Narcan training is next Wednesday, May 22.
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