RSA Course Online

Tag: Alcohol Servers

  • RSA Update: Reducing Drink Driving

    It seems like almost every day someone somewhere in Oz is caught for drink driving despite efforts to educate the public about the dangers of getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

    The most recent incident reported by www.News.com.au was of a man who was detected driving with a blood alcohol level, 4 times over the legal limit.

    Drink driving is dangerous for so many reasons, one of them being because it makes obeying the rules of the road and rational thinking difficult. The man involved was not only over the limit but was also speeding.

    Before drink driving, drivers should consider the consequences and penalties that drink driving can cause. For example your licence can be suspended which in itself is more than just inconvenient, especially for those whose livelihood is somehow dependent upon being able to drive.

    Drivers be aware of the consequences of drink driving which can be much greater than the consequences of abstaining from drinking if you have to drive or calling a taxi. In addition to having his vehicle impounded for 28 days the man also had his licence confiscated for 12 months. However this is still luckier than he could have been, he could have been killed or caused the death of other innocent road users had a crash occurred.

    Below is the post from News.com.au detailing the incident:

    A MAN’S car has been impounded after he was allegedly caught driving with a blood alcohol reading more than four times the legal limit yesterday on The Parade at Magill.

    About 4.25pm, police conducting laser duties on The Parade allegedly detected a silver Nissan four-wheel-drive vehicle traveling at 62 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.

    After submitting to a breath test, the driver recorded a reading of 0.207.

    He was issued a 12-month instant loss of licence notice and had his car impounded for 28 days.

    The 67-year-old man from Magill was reported for exceeding the prescribed concentration of alcohol, and exceeding the speed limit.

    He will appear in court at a later date.

    Source: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/driver-blew-four-times-alcohol-limit/story-e6frfkp9-1226624145261

    Alcohol Servers: What you can Do to Reduce Drink Driving

    Alcohol servers should learn what a standard drink constitutes and know more or less the alcoholic content of drinks you serve so that you are able to advise patrons accordingly and assist them in remaining sober. Learn what a standard drink is and stick to the government’s recommended daily standard drink. This will allow you to remain within the limits of the law when serving patrons or drinking yourself. Advise your customers not to drink and drive and encourage them to call a taxi or friend for a lift home. Have a phone that patrons can use if they need to call for transport home.

     

  • Last Resort in Responsible Service of Alcohol

    Responsible Service of Alcohol seems to be taking a back seat these days judging by the number of intoxicated patrons that can be found loitering around licenced venues in entertainment districts across Oz. Alcohol Servers need to question whether they have done all they can to reduce intoxication and effects of alcohol misuse.

    Employees of the hospitality industry that are involved with the sale of alcohol must ensure that they do not contribute to the alcohol fuelled problems plaguing our entertainment districts. In order to do this they need to be aware of their responsibilities according to the law.

    The responsible service of alcohol certificate will assist in this regard and teach workers how to properly serve alcohol as to not contribute to these alcohol fuelled incidents. (To learn how to register for the RSA course online, visit www.Rsacourseonline.com.au

    Some of the serious incidents we have witnessed recently include assault, murder, robbery, drink driving accidents and brawling.

    As an RSA worker, you must constantly ask yourself whether or not you have done all you can reduce the numbers of alcohol fuelled incidents. Have you fulfilled your duties by, not serving minors, not serving intoxicated patrons, recognizing the signs of intoxication and acting accordingly? This will in turn positively affect the community if all RSA workers employ this self-reflective approach to alcohol service.

    Some of the Actions an RSA employee must undertake include:

    • Look out for the visible signs of intoxication, such as a person’s speech, balance, co-ordination or behaviour. These are noticeably different when someone is intoxicated and it is reasonable to assume these changes are due to intoxication and deny this person further alcohol service.
    • Apply tact when denying alcohol to a customer and always remain respectful and understand that the person is intoxicated and probably unreasonable at this stage.
    • Learn what a standard drink constitutes and know more or less the alcoholic content of drinks you serve so that you are able to advise patrons accordingly and assist them in remaining sober. Learn what a standard drink is and stick to the government’s recommended daily standard drink. This will allow you to remain within the limits of the law when serving patrons or drinking yourself.
    • Ask anyone who looks under 23 for their proof of ID. A current driver’s licence (or interstate equivalent) or passport will do.
    • Provide customers with good quality food and free drinking water wherever alcohol is sold.
    • Provide alternatives to full strength alcohol, such as low alcohol beer, soft drinks and coffee to patrons. Advise patrons to alternate one alcoholic drink with one non-alcoholic drink or a glass of water.
    • Do not serve the same patron with too many drinks at once, this is an easy way of binge drinking which can have serious negative consequences for them and other bystanders. Coordinate with other workers in the venue about who to stop serving alcohol to.

    If staff of licenced venues are aware of their responsibilities and enforce them, it is likely we will see a significant decline in alcohol fuelled misconduct and violence on our streets.

     

  • Alcohol Servers, Be Prepared for Christmas Rush

    Be Prepared for Christmas Rush

     

    Christmas is around the corner and according to marketing research liquor buying will increase by about 10 per cent this year. This growth can be attributed to Australians growing thirst for premium drinking options. In fact after online sales, liquor sales are expected to top the growth charts this year, according to marketing research company,IBISWorld.

     

    Although liquor sales are always good at this time of the year, the growing popularity of premium liquor brands signals an above average increase this year according to researchers. Aussies preferences in premium wines, cocktails, craft beers and cider are strongly influencing revenue growth in the industry.

     

    Over the next year it has been forecasted that Australians will spend about $33 billion on alcohol and most of that will be in the form of premium drinks rather than traditional beer. And over the next 5 years $39.9 billion in alcohol spending is expected regardless of the increase in alcohol costs.

     

    So for alcohol industry stakeholders the focus should be on cocktail and other premium alcoholic drinks which should in turn correspond with an increase in alcohol revenue.

     

    The researchers also found that over the next year around $15.9 billion of the expected $33.1 billion revenue is to be spent in bar and pubs, good news for licenced venue owners. Liquor retailers can look forward to a $17.2 billion rise in alcohol income, for this reason the entire industry can expect growth and good festive season profits.