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Tag: responsible service of alcohol course

  • Police Commissioner Calls for Ban on Alcohol Advertising

    There seems to be growing support for the banning of alcohol advertising during live sporting broadcasts in Western Australia.

    The Police Commissioner, Karl O’Callaghan has urged Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to consider banning alcohol advertising during live sporting broadcasts.

    According to Abbott, alcohol advertisements are just as damaging to children as gambling advertisements and betting odds promoted during live sporting events. He is particularly concerned about the impact that alcohol advertisements will have on children who watch AFL, NRL and other popular sporting codes in Oz. He has often in the past condemned the alcohol industry’s campaigns which he believes target youngsters with their themes and appeal.

    This post on TheAustralian.com.au explains:

    Earlier this week, the federal Liberal leader said if he wins government in September he will scrap live betting odds from sports broadcasts unless the television industry takes action first.

    Today, WA’s top cop called on Mr Abbott to also consider alcohol ads in his prohibition, saying children tuning into AFL, NRL and other sporting codes were just as likely to be influenced by ads for beer as betting.

    “He thinks that is a loophole and that it means they (bookmakers) can advertise during G-rated programs for kids – the same actually applies to alcohol,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

    “It is the only time when someone can advertise alcohol at a time of day when kids could be watching.

    “My message to him is to have a look at both things. You have got an opportunity, so do it properly.”

    The WA commissioner has been a vocal critic of alcohol advertisers, regularly issuing official complaints through the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC) scheme, while labelling some advertisers “cunning” and “unethical”.

    He also put his case to police commissioners of every other state at a national meeting in April.

    Mr Abbott said he was ready to put the television industry “on notice” to clamp down on broadcasting live betting odds during sports coverage or face a legislated ban.

    Read more: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/call-for-ban-on-alcohol-ads-in-sport/story-e6frg996-1226638671649

    It seems the police commissioner’s concerns may be warranted as statistics show Aussie youth are drinking from a younger age than they did a few years ago and more teen are engaging in binge drinking than ever before.

    While on this topic one cannot help but recall a recent article in which we discussed a study which provided evidence that young people are encouraged to start drinking by alcohol advertising. The group expressed fears that alcohol advertising and marketing messages are portraying the wrong message to the youth, that alcohol is the way to happiness and success.

    The study for the European Commission found that children in the UK are more exposed to alcohol marketing than even adults are, with 10 to 15-year-olds seeing 10% more alcohol advertising on television than their parents do and 50% more ads for pre-mixed drinks. Perhaps even more concerning is the advertising of alcohol products on social media, which is mostly frequented by young people.

    Debates such as this one highlight even more the need for the enforcement of Responsible Service of Alcohol. It is RSA staff’s responsibility to ensure that people under the age of 18 do not get their hands on alcohol in licenced venues. It is important to ask anyone who looks young for an ID and refuse them alcohol if they cannot provide it.

     

  • Drink Driving Leads to Crash in Milton

    According to Roads Transport and Maritime Services NSW, drink driving is a factor in about one in every five crashes in NSW where someone loses their life. Of the drink drivers who are killed, 97 per cent are men and 64 per cent are under the age of 40.

    The consequences of driving while under the influence of alcohol have once again been demonstrated by an incident that took place in Milton last month. A man driving while intoxicated has been charged after causing a crash on the Princes Highway.

    The middle aged man was charged after being found with an alcohol reading of point 060. This type of behaviour is however not uncommon, another driver in Ulladulla has been found driving almost 2 times over the legal limit.

    Powerfm.com.au reports:

    A man has been charged with drink driving after a crash in Milton last month.

    The crash happened about 8PM on Sunday April 21 at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Matron Porter Drive.

    A 49 year old Morton man who was driving a Flacon Ute has been charged with drink driving after returning a blood alcohol reading of point 060.

    He has been ordered to appear in Milton Court next month.

    Meantime a 58 year old Ulladulla man has been charged with drink driving after returning a reading more than twice the limit.

    He was stopped in Petty’s Ave Ulladulla.

    Source: http://www.powerfm.com.au/nowra/index.php/news/36921-drink-drive-charge-after-crash

    One of the most important issues to remember is that you don’t have to be drunk to be affected by alcohol. You might feel normal but no one drives as well as they should after drinking alcohol. Also Roads Transport and Maritime Services NSW reminds road users that novice drivers in particular should not drink before driving, even though the legal limit is 0.05, learner drivers should refrain from alcohol altogether because they are at a much higher risk of crashing than more experienced drivers. It is for this reason that learner and provisional licence holders are restricted to a zero alcohol limit.

    Another misconception is that by drinking coffee, eating a meal or apples you can bring down your alcohol level. Sobering up takes time and no amount of coffee, food, physical activity or sleep will speed up the process. Police will take any excuses if your blood alcohol level is over the limit.

    In NSW, police have the power to stop drivers at random to test for alcohol and subsequently arrest drivers who have an illegal blood alcohol level. They may also arrest drivers they believe are impaired by drugs including alcohol and conduct a blood and urine test. Police may require a driver to undergo a sobriety test in certain circumstances. Do not think that you can get away with drink driving, last year NSW police conducted millions of breath tests (around 4.5 million).

    The Random Breath Test has been highly successful in deterring drink driving and stopping accidents since its inception in 1982. According to statistics provided by The Roads Transport and Maritime Services fatal crashes involving alcohol have dropped from around 40 per cent of all fatalities to the current level of 19 per cent since breath testing has been introduced.

     

  • Tips for Responsible Drinking

    Practicing responsible drinking is the only way to enjoy alcohol, binge drinking on the other hand leaves behind negative effects that can be felt long after the “buzz” has worn off.

    It is important that drinkers learn about the ways to keep their alcohol intake in check and learn how to drink responsibly.

    Being a responsible drinker involves making sure you’re safe, making sure those around  you are safe, actively avoiding dangerous situations, minimising the risks to yourself and others andhaving a positive overall drinking experience.

    How can you ensure a responsible drinking experience?

    • Be knowledgeable about what you’re drinking. Know what a standard drink is and use it as a way of keeping track of how much you’re drinking. Consider the alcohol content in each drink you consume and make sure that you space out your drinks throughout the night instead of downing them one after the other. Alternate one alcoholic drink with one non-alcoholic one or a glass of water to sustain you over the night. It takes up to an hour for your body to process each unit of alcohol. So have a break between drinks.
    • When drinking shooters or shots, keep in mind that they usually have a higher alcohol content. Also drink water between your drinks to help you keep hydrated and keep the hang over at bay.
    • Avoid mixing alcohol and other drugs. The impact of mixing alcohol and other drugs whether medication or recreational can be devastating and land you in the emergency room. If you’re on medication, check the information in the box to see what it says about drinking alcohol.

    Some of the side effects of combining drinking and drugs include death from internal bleeding, heart problems, difficulty breathing, headaches, drowsiness, fainting and loss of coordination, problems only made worse when behind the wheel of a car.

    • Arrange safe transport home. Don’t drink and drive. Alcohol is a depressant drug which slows down your reaction speed, which means if you need to think and act fast, you probably won’t be able to.  If you’re going out with a group of friends have a designated responsible driver who remains sober and make sure everyone gets home safely.  If no one wants to have a sober night, bring enough money for a taxi.
    • Wait until you’re old enough. Underage drinking is not only against the law, but can be detrimental to your health and physical as well as mental development. Under Responsible Service of Alcohol law serving alcohol to minors carries major fines for workers, management and owners of establishments, but the real cost of serving teenagers are the social consequences, such as teenage drink driving, teenage pregnancy and teenage violence. Teenagers who attempt to buy alcohol can also be fined, as can other parents who attempt to provide alcohol to their children’s friends without their parents’ consent.
    • Finish your drink too quickly and you’ll feel pressured to get another. Instead, make your drink and your evening last longer. Enjoy your drink and your night out by chatting, sipping, snacking, drinking water and getting fresh air.

     

  • Risks Involved with Drink Driving

    One of the aspects of responsible drinking is ensuring that you arrange safe transport home and do not engage in drink driving.

    Although most people think they can handle driving after a few drinks, countless studies (and statistics) have proven that alcohol reduces a person’s ability to drive safely. Even those who show few visible signs of alcohol in their system do not drive as well as usual after drinking. This is because alcohol affects most areas of the brain, and these effects are wide-ranging and impossible to compensate for. The brain being responsible for your movements and reflexes, it becomes difficult to engage in complex tasks once it has been affected by alcohol.

    It is also because alcohol is a depressant which means it has the following effects:

    • Slowing brain function making it difficult to respond to situations, make decisions or react quickly.
    • Reduces a person’s ability to judge how fast they are travelling or the distance from other cars.
    • It gives a person false confidence. People take greater risks because they think their driving is better than it really is.
    • Makes multi-tasking difficult. When it comes to driving, while you concentrate on steering, you could miss seeing traffic lights, cars entering from side streets or pedestrians.
    • Affects the sense of balance which is especially important for motorcycle riders.
    • Causes sleepiness.

    From these effects it becomes obvious that operating any machinery or vehicles once intoxicated is not only irresponsible but selfish because you could do more harm to others than you do to yourself. It is not only car or truck drivers that can injure or kill people and damage property as an incident in Brisbane recently proved. An elderly man was charged with operating his motorised wheelchair while intoxicated. The man was without any remorse although being found to be 4 times over the legal limit. It seems the man’s motorised wheelchair overturned probably due to speeding or reckless driving.

    Read what this post on Brisbanetimes.com.au reported on the incident:

    Ray Vivian Hodges, of Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, recorded the alcohol reading after police found him sprawled on the ground, shirtless and mumbling incoherently, beside his overturned scooter at Mooloolaba in late March.

    With the aid of a walking stick, Mr Hodges has faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court for what was his fourth drink-driving charge since 2008.

    Mr Hodges who admitted consuming 10 large glasses of wine, recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.209.

    He had “taken offence” at some police allegations particularly the categorisation of his scooter as a vehicle, saying “on this occasion, the wheelchair was my legs [and] as my legs, it was the only way I could get home”.

    Mr Hodges was disqualified from driving for 18 months and sentenced to four months in jail, suspended for two years.

    Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/elderly-man-nabbed-drink-driving-on-motorised-wheelchair-20130416-2hx8b.html#ixzz2QhgXkVBE

    The magistrate said that in light of the recent death of a scooter rider, Kim Horrigan, who was hit by a van at Currimundi, people like Mr Hodges need to be stopped before they kill themselves or someone else.

     

  • 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.

     

  • Mixing Up your Cocktail Menu – How to make a Victorian Martini

    Cocktails are a favourite of many drinkers and bartenders around the world, but where exactly did this idea come from, after all drinks are perfectly delicious on their own, why the need to combine a number of drinks in order to make a new concoction, known as a cocktail?

    Well the modern cocktail is thought to have developed from earlier versions of Toddies, Fizzies and Juleps. There is no definite story around the history of the cocktail but it is thought to date back to the 1800s and there are number of stories (some quite far-fetched) about how people first decided to mix drinks. The modern version spread due to popularity in the United States but it probably first started in London.

    (Read this story that claims cocktails developed in London http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ultratravel/9741140/The-surprising-history-of-the-cocktail.html)

    Wherever its origins we can all be thankfully that it spread because while we can appreciate a good shot of whisky or bourbon neat, there are some settings where nothing can replace a cocktail (like lying on a beach in The Carribean).

    And since cocktails most probably were born out of a need for something new and exciting, it makes sense that we are inventing new and exciting cocktails everyday. Just like fashions, trends in cocktails change with each season, so whether you’re inventing your own or copying some international trend, have fun playing around with different ingredients and mixtures.

    Here is a simple and delicious recipe you can try.

    http://youtu.be/7yJpVFzSteU

     

  • Alcohol Crime Takes Too Much of Police Time

    According to Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione alcohol fuelled crimes are up and are taking a huge amount of the police’s time and resources. The Commissioner says the police are spending around 70 per cent of their human resources on alcohol related crime in NSW, an issue that will feature high on the agenda at the 6th Australian Drug and Alcohol Strategy Conference which will begin on Wednesday.

    The conference will aim to tackle issues in Australia relating to alcohol abuse. The Commissioner who kickstarted the conference told the press that police spent most of their time dealing with offenders, victims and motorists in incidents induced by alcohol.

    It is interesting that Mr Scipione said the number of young people binge drinking was lower but those who were still binge drinking were consuming even larger amounts of alcohol. The Commissioner has urged parents and fathers in particular to educate their kids about the dangers of binge drinking and how to drink moderately and responsibly before they even reach their teen years.

    Read what this post from News.com.au says about the Commissioner’s complaints:

    ALCOHOL-RELATED crime takes up 70 per cent of all police work in NSW, Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says.

    The 6th Australian Drug and Alcohol Strategy Conference kicked off on Wednesday in Sydney with top police brass and academics to deliver presentations and share ideas over the next three days.

    After opening the conference, Mr Scipione told reporters that police on the streets spent the majority of their time dealing with offenders, victims and motorists in incidents that involved alcohol.

    “The reality is about 70 per cent of police time on the streets … is in some way connected to the abuse or misuse of alcohol,” he said.

    “Alcohol is the number one issue on the agenda for police commissioners across this nation.”

    Mr Scipione said the number of people under the age of 25 who were binge drinking was in decline but those who engaged in heavy drinking were consuming larger amounts of alcohol.

    He stressed that parents, especially fathers, should educate their children about alcohol before they became teenagers.

    Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/alcohol-related-crime-takes-up-cops-time/story-e6frfku9-1226601388764#ixzz2O3ck3mjv

    An interesting issue highlighted by the Police Commissioner is the role of parents in educating young people about alcohol before they are old enough to make mistakes involving alcohol. Some of the worst case scenarios that can result from teen drinking is binge drinking, drink driving and unsafe sex which is why abstinence is best for teenagers.

    Particularly in Australia alcohol is tolerated as socially acceptable but it should be remembered that it is still a drug.  It should be noted that alcohol is responsible for most drug-related deaths in the teenage population in Oz and many other countries around the world.

    Additionally alcohol can be associated with a variety of serious health risks which for a teenagers developing body can be detrimental.  It’s difficult to prevent teenagers from experimenting with alcohol, but parents can encourage sensible drinking habits.

     

  • RSA Staff: Avoid Prosecution by Asking for IDs

    Pub and Bar staff, in fact any staff of licenced venues need to be aware of the danger of not asking patrons for proof of their age, especially patrons who look under 23.

    While it is often easy to overlook serving a minor when the venue is busy, extra attention must be given to people who look like that may be around their early twenties to make sure no underage patrons slip through the cracks.

    It is important to remember that the Responsible Service of Alcohol legislation dictates that bar staff, security staff etc. – anyone that serves alcohol must ensure that they do not serve minors or face fines of up to $8000.

    Even just allowing underage patrons into licenced premises could cost bar staff $10,000 in fines and the management could receive an even bigger fine.

    It is illegal for a person under the age of 18 to be found in possession of, or drinking alcohol in a public place or to be found entering and remaining in a venue that supplies alcohol. People under the age of 18 are only permitted in a licensed venue under certain circumstances, such as a underage function approved by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, with a responsible adult who is over 18 years, they reside on the premises, are engaged in a training program in hospitality or training for the purposes of employment or work experience or unaccompanied, in a licensed restaurant during ordinary trading hours (7am to 11pm).

    If a person under the age of 18 is found to be breaking any of the laws outlined above, they may also be fined $500.

     

  • SA Pubs Concerned About Tough New Trading Conditions

    New late night trading conditions have raised concern among publicans in SA. The new code is aimed at making entertainment districts a safer and healthier environment for patrons and keeping the public safe. The number of alcohol fuelled violent crimes and amount of social misconduct that occurred last year was unacceptable, with several people losing their lives in entertainment districts across the country. It is hoped these new late night trading restrictions will significantly impact the safety in these districts.

    However some publicans in South Australia are worried about the new late night trading conditions which they believe are too tough and too generalised across the country. The new conditions would be imposed state-wide at licenced venues as approved by Cabinet last year.

    Some of the most notable conditions laid out by the new code include banning promotions that are gender based such as “ladies nights”.  It is also now the licenced venues responsibility to protect patrons from drink spiking and providing them with free drinking water. Most of these conditions were already being carried out by most responsible publicans but there some new ones. Some publicans are afraid that the new code imposes the same restrictions on pubs regardless of where in the country they are and does not look at the specific needs of the pub or the area.

    This post from TheShout.com.au has more:

    South Australian pubs are concerned about tough new late night trading conditions that would apply to venues state-wide.

    The Draft Late Night Trading Code of Practice is the second tranche of reforms proposed for SA liquor licences. It is set to follow the introduction next week (January 18) of the General Code of Practice, which was approved by Cabinet last year.

    Australian Hotels Association (SA) general manager Ian Horne told TheShout most publicans feel “pretty comfortable” with the general code.

    It includes requirements to provide free cool drinking water to patrons, bans “gender-based” drinks promotions like ladies nights, and sets out the responsibility of venues to protect patrons from drink spiking.

    “It’s a formalising of what many pubs have already been doing, there’s been a voluntary code in since place the late 1990s,” Horne said.

    “It now becomes mandatory so it effectively has the same power as being a condition of your licence.”

    But he said the late night code proposes very severe measures including statewide lockouts at 3am, mandatory metal detection on 200-plus capacity venues, as well as requirements relating to non-breakable drinkware and CCTV.

    “Unfortunately what’s being proposed is just a statewide blanket, it fails to look at specific needs of specific areas,” said Horne.

    “What would apply in Hindley street, which is the equivalent of Sydney’s Kings Cross, would also apply in Ceduna on the far west coast,” he said.

    Source: http://www.theshout.com.au/2013/01/11/article/SA-pubs-condemn-late-night-code/EGDZNJIILB.html

    In addition to enforcing the new late night trading code, waitrons and other staff of licenced venues should know when to refuse service to a patron in order to serve alcohol responsibly. Responsible service of alcohol is also a vital part of publican’s duties. Waitrons and bartenders should be skilled in identifying the signs of intoxication and when to refuse service. There should be consensus among staff as to what these signs are and which customers are to be refused alcohol.

    All staff of licenced venues from serving staff to security should be in possession of their RSA certificate and be able to apply these rules to their work. Both staff and licensees will be held liable for any RSA breaches or serving alcohol to banned patrons in addition to enforcing the new late night trading code.

     

     

  • Only Way to Serve Alcohol Responsibly

    RSA Training

     

    Although we don’t like to admit it, especially when we’re having a good time, alcohol is a drug. It’s a depressant, and when it is taken in excess, it fills the body with toxins. Your body reacts as it would to any drug overdose, attempting to metabolize and get rid of the toxins.

     


    The liver is the organ that undertakes this task of removing the alcohol from the body. That is why drinking in moderation is so important. Excess and binge drinking can cause irreparable damage to the liver, resulting in other life threatening conditions.

     


    Normally a healthy liver removes alcohol at the rate of one standard drink per hour but not so with a damaged liver.  This willvary according to a person’s size, gender and general health.

     


    What people often don’t remember is that it takes time for them to sober up, this is especially important before driving. Allowing customers to become intoxicated and giving them an hour to sober up is not an effective strategy. Depending on the amount of alcohol consumed, and other physiological factors people may still have alcohol in their systems the next morning.

     


    The old wive’s tales do not work, like taking a cold shower or drinking black coffee etc. Servers of alcohol should understand that these beliefs are false. Once drunk, only time will allow a person to recover as the alcohol is expelled from the system by the body’s organs.

     


    If customers do not have the time to allow this process to occur, they need to pace themselves, rather than drink at a rate faster than the body can break down the alcohol. You as a server have a responsibility to ensure you do not contribute to this drunken state and adhere to your RSA training.