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Tag: Responsible Service of Alcohol

  • 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.

     

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol News: Huge Cost of Alcohol Harm

    We often consider the emotional and physical costs of alcohol abuse on the community and individuals in particular when discussing alcohol harm but we seldom consider the huge financial cost alcohol related harm has on the Australian society.

    A recent article on www.caboolturenews.com.au discusses a study which estimates alcohol related harm at more than $14 billion in 2012, which was double the amount of revenue collected in tax and excise.

    The study by researchers at Griffith University undertook the study on behalf of the Australian Institute of Criminology. This huge financial cost of alcohol related harm was the key finding of the report.

    The authors of the study have suggested a substantial amount of the government’s revenue generated from alcohol taxes should go towards diversion and prevention strategies to tackle the issue head-on and at the root rather than having to deal with the consequences.

    Read more about the study below with an excerpt from the post on www.Caboolturenews.com.au :

    The Commonwealth raised $7 billion in total tax revenue in 2010 from alcohol products through excise and GST revenue.

    Matthew Manning, a co-author of The Societal Costs Of Alcohol Misuse In Australia, said the paper built on a series of costings carried out over the past decade by David Collins and Helen Lapsley and showed the extent of damage that alcohol caused to the economy.

    Of the $14.352 billion estimate, $6.046 billion involved costs to Australian productivity, $3.662 billion were costs associated with traffic accidents, $2.9 billion comprised costs to the criminal justice system and $1.686 billion represented costs to the health system.

    Dr Manning made the point the total did not incorporate the negative impacts on others – estimated at more than $6 billion – associated with someone else’s drinking.

    Productivity losses, which accounted for almost half of the total cost, were calculated as the sum of reduced workforce and household labour due to premature death, reduced household labour due to sickness and reduced workforce participation due to absenteeism.

    The criminal justice system costs were made up of police (38% of total), child protection and support services (8%), prisons (21%), plus insurance administration (1%), to courts (3%) and other organisations such as detox, counselling and victims services, associated with addressing violence (29%).

    Source:http://www.caboolturenews.com.au/news/alcohol-harm-cost-us-more-twice-tax-revenue-raised/1817693/

    Servers of alcohol should never underestimate the role they play in keeping this high financial cost to the country down. 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 and therefore cost to the economy.

    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 and minimise the huge financial impact on the community and Australian society in general. Have you fulfilled your duties by, not serving minors, not serving intoxicated patrons, recognizing the signs of intoxication and acting accordingly?

     

  • Researchers Concern at Rising Alcohol Harm despite Fall in Consumption

    An informative article I recently read on the website http://theconversation.com discussed how despite falling alcohol numbers, alcohol induced harm is still on the rise. This seems quite paradoxical considering that when the consumption of something decreases, the effects of that substance are also expected to decrease, not so with alcohol it seems.

    Previously we have viewed alcohol induced harm as directly correspondent to level of alcohol consumption in a community but this is not necessarily the case, according to new research by Michael Livingston, post-doctoral research fellow in the Drug Policy Modelling Program at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and a research fellow in the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research at Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre.

    The research looked into countries drinking habits such as Sweden where per capita alcohol consumption has fallen in the last five years while the rates of harm associated with alcohol has remained fairly consistent.

    A similar phenomenon was experienced in Britain where alcohol consumption has apparently decreased since 2004 yet harm induced by alcohol consumption has remained high and Australia seems to be in the same boat as Sweden and England.

    Read an excerpt from the article below which explains further:

    Over the last decade or so, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics have shown almost no change in the amount of alcohol consumed per person in Australia. In 2000/01, it was 10.15 litres of pure alcohol, while in 2010/11 (the most recent year for which data are available), it was 9.99 litres. In contrast, rates of alcohol-related harm are increasing.

    Recent studies in Victoria of both adults and young people have found sharp increases in a range of problems from alcohol. This includes rates of alcohol-related hospitalisations, presentations at emergency departments due to intoxication, late-night assaults, domestic violence involving alcohol and alcohol treatment.

    And a national study of alcohol-related harm between 1995 and 2006 found increases in alcohol-related hospitalisations in all states.

    http://theconversation.com/alcohol-fuelled-violence-on-the-rise-despite-falling-consumption-9892

    Recently the issue of hospitalisations due to alcohol induced harm have become a matter of particular concern, costing the economy millions and taking up beds in hospitals that could be occupied by people with serious natural illnesses.

    One thing these findings make very clear, vilifying alcohol is not the answer. Drinking alcohol is not the source of the violence and harm but the few people who are still abusing alcohol are the problem. Alcohol consumed responsibly and moderately is good for you, both in terms of mental and physical wellbeing but abusing alcohol and binge drinking which has become a part of our culture is the real culprit and needs to be tackled.

    Another painfully obvious part of these findings is that people whose responsibility it is under the law to ensure alcohol is sold and served in moderation are not doing so well enough. Responsible Service of Alcohol is a vital part of the plan to tackle alcohol induced harm in Australia and it can only be successful if the staff of every licenced venue across Oz does their part.

     

  • RSA Update: Quick Tips for Bartenders on Reducing Alcohol Related Harm

    Bartenders and serving staff of licenced venues have a role to play in reducing alcohol induced violence and harm. This is one of the reasons why authorities made Responsible Service of Alcohol training mandatory for all workers in the alcohol sales and service industry.

    There is no doubt that alcohol fuelled harm in Oz especially in entertainment districts has gotten out of hand, but there are some practical tips that bartenders and other workers in licenced venues can adopt to prevent contributing to alcohol fuelled harm.

    • Do not serve alcohol to minors. They are not responsible enough or physically developed enough to handle their liquor. They also have less self-control and restraint and therefore are more likely to abuse alcohol and binge drink, resulting in harm to themselves and possibly others.
    • Do not serve alcohol to anyone who you suspect is or is displaying signs that they may be unduly intoxicated. This is one of the biggest problems contributing to alcohol problems in Oz at the moment.
    • Do not serve the same person too many drinks, even if they do not display signs of physical intoxication. Keep track of how many drinks you serve each person.
    • Be aware of any new restrictions that may have been implemented in your district and adhere to them. For example Byrons Bay has recently introduced a number of measures to combat alcohol fuelled violence in the district such as a 1.30am lockout, refusal of entry to any person seen drinking within 50 metres of a venue and restrictions on takeaway sales after a set time. Learn the new rules and stick to them.

     

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol Update: Is Mixing Alcohol and Energy Drinks a Problem?

    There has been a lot of talk in the media recently about the dangers of mixing alcohol and energy drinks but is there any truth or even proof to these allegations?

    Energy drinks have taken off on the market since 1997 and now we can find them everywhere from supermarkets to petrol stations. It is estimated that the market for energy drinks is around $9 billion American dollars each year (around $8.6 billion Australian dollars).

    One of the risks associated with energy drinks especially for alcohol drinkers is that energy drinks contain an exceptionally large amount of caffeine. For this reason drinkers can stay awake longer and continue drinking even well beyond legal and safe limits, thereafter they begin to jeopardise their health and the present a risk to others if they become violent.

    A standard cup of coffee has about 100 milligrams of caffeine, a cup of tea 50 milligrams and a can of cola 35-55 milligrams. Energy drinks usually have more. A single serving of an energy drink can have anywhere from 50 to 500 milligrams of caffeine and the addition of Guarana (a South American plant extract that contains additional caffeine) ups the caffeine dose even more.

    Caffeine is a stimulant and massive caffeine overdoses can cause reduced blood flow to the heart and abnormal heart rhythms, whereas alcohol is a relaxant and is meant to do the opposite of what caffeine does, this is dangerous for the body.

    Also most energy drinks also contain sugar which the body uses to fuel work but can also mean extra calories which if not used will be stored and result in weight gain.

    Every drink alcoholic or not, energy drinks or just sodas should be consumed in moderation. Anything consumed in excess is bad for human health and normally results in complications. The same goes for alcohol, it can be an excellent relaxer but consumed in excess it can present a very real danger to health and safety and when combined with energy drinks the consequences can be even worse.

     

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol News: Lengths Alcoholics Resort To in Order to Fuel their Habits

    For non-alcoholics it may seem strange the lengths alcoholics will go to feed their addiction. Some people have been known to rob their own family members or even their employers to obtain money to buy alcohol. Others have engaged in illegal activities such as prostitution in order to get the money to feed their habits. An example of this strange and dangerous behaviour occurred in Sydney last year when a woman with an alcohol addiction walked out of a Sydney hospital where she was being treated without being discharged.

    A search then ensued for the woman who was later found intoxicated in Paddington a week later. The woman seemed disillusioned when the police caught her, claiming she thought she had been away from the hospital for only a few hours when in fact it was a week.

    The police claimed that the woman had been breaking into homes and stealing alcohol during the time she went missing. She was then charged for breaking into 3 houses and robbing them of alcohol.  Luckily this person did not cause any harm to any other persons  but this incident could have turned out much worse.

    The story does however have somewhat of a hopeful ending because the woman involved is currently undergoing rehabilitation and will hopefully be able to overcome her addiction.

    Read what this post from Abc.net.au had to say about the incident:

    A woman who sparked a police search when she walked out of a Sydney hospital last year has admitted stealing alcohol while her family and friends were looking for her.

    Belinda Burcham walked out of St Vincent’s Hospital on the 30th of December without being discharged, sparking a large police search and an online campaign by her family and friends.

    It is understood the one-time businesswoman is an associate of Moses Obeid.

    Burcham was found drunk in Paddington about a week after she disappeared. She later told police she thought she had only been gone for a few hours.

    Police say that while she was missing, Ms Burcham was breaking into Paddington houses and stealing alcohol to support her addiction.

    The 40-year-old was charged with six offences relating to three break and enters on the same street.

    Documents tendered to Waverley Local Court allege Belinda Burcham stole two bottles of wine valued at $1600. The owner is looking for compensation.

    The documents also state she was crying so much when police tried to interview her that they had to stop.

    Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-18/woman-who-sparked-search-admits-alcohol-theft/4579252

    Overcoming an addiction is an ongoing battle and most alcoholics require professional help and rehabilitation in order to kick the habit. But prevention is better than cure especially when it comes to addictions, that is one of the reasons why Responsible Service of Alcohol training is so important.

    Every worker in a licenced venue must be in possession of a Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate not only for legal compliance but also to ensure they have the knowledge and skill needed to avoid serving too much alcohol to customers or contributing to alcohol fuelled violence or addictions.

     

  • 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.

     

  • Police Weekend Blitz Yields Hundreds of Arrests

    Last weekend saw police making hundreds of arrests related to alcohol fuelled misconduct. In addition to numerous arrests, many people had to be hurled away in stretchers as this video demonstrates. According to the video the numbers of alcohol fuelled incidents have decreased however, they are still unacceptably high. Binge drinking in entertainment districts is still a major problem with partygoers continuing to abuse alcohol and refuse to behave appropriately.

    http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/national/watch/eef2554e_edd6_33d0_afc9_f2b23fc7c54b/police-blitz-on-alcohol-related-violence/

    Alcohol servers in these districts have a major role to play bringing down the volume of alcohol fuelled incidents. This can be done by not serving alcohol to anyone under the legal drinking age and never serving alcohol to unduly intoxicated patrons.

    Serving alcohol to a person that is already intoxicated is contributing to the violence and assaults that are so rife in the entertainment districts each weekend. Servers who continue to serve alcohol to unduly intoxicated patrons are not only harming the person but the public as well who may be injured or affected by the person’s intoxication, people end up in hospital, jail, or even dead because of the consequences of binge drinking.

  • How to Avoid Binge Drinking this Weekend

    So you’re planning an evening out with your mates but usually an evening out means an evening of binge drinking and nothing but regrets the next morning.

    Most people don’t intend to get hammered on a night out but once you down your first few drinks, it’s like you can’t say no, somehow alcohol helps us lose our inhibitions and leaves us worse for wear the next morning. So how do we avoid excessively drinking and just enjoy one or two drinks without it turning into an all-out binge? Here are a few pointers on how to drink moderately and responsibly:

    • Lose bad company. The old saying about birds of feather really is true when it comes to habits like binge drinking. The biggest cause of binge drinking is culture and peers. Most people drink because all their friends drink and when we go out especially on the weekend, we tend to want to get intoxicated together, not many people enjoy getting drunk alone, unless they have a drinking problem. So lose the bad company until you are strong enough to say no and drink according to your own limits. Remember what your friends can handle may not necessarily be what you can handle.
    • Be extra cautious when you are drowning your sorrows or when you are celebrating. Make sure that you are in control and aware that you may be using alcohol to feel better. Be mindful as you can end up feeling even more depressed when it wears off. If you suspect that you are possibly depressed and not coping, then seek advice and help instead of masking it with drinking. If you are drinking to cope with a setback be responsible and arrange safe transport home.
    • Consciously monitor the amount of alcohol you consume on a night out. Make it a rule and a habit to have a glass of water in between every drink and eat a hearty meal before drinking. Set a limit for yourself and stick to it. If you are a woman, make sure that you are consuming less than your male friends because it takes less to get you drunk than it does them.
    • Remember that we get very thirsty when we drink because alcohol is a diuretic and the trick is to drink water. If we don’t, we tend to drink more alcohol to quench the thirst, making the problem worse.
    • Have “small” drinks and dilute in as much soda or water as you can. Find the drink that you enjoy the taste of and sip it. If it is a wine or beer and if your chosen drink is a spirit, dilute it in water or soda, this will keep the added sugar content down.
    • If drinking with a group of friends, make sure there is a designated driver that doesn’t drink even one drink. Not only can this person drive you home but they can look out for your safety and wellbeing while you drink. They can also monitor how much you drink and help you stick to your limits because they are thinking clearly whereas you will probably not be after a few drinks.