Even though the number of alcohol-related fatalities in Nevada has gone down a little each year, we’re still not free from grieving. It is still important to do everything we possibly can to stop people from drinking too much and to stop them from driving at all when they have been drinking.
Just like we would want our doctor or our electrician to know what he is doing, we want our servers to be able to keep alcohol out of the hands of those who might do harm to themselves and others. Because of this, there has been a long history of alcohol awareness training. A lot of states are considering having mandatory training of all bartenders and waitresses/waiters who serve liquor to the public. The goal is to teach them to accurately spot fake ID, “card” underage people, and know when people are too intoxicated to be served more alcohol. They also need to know when to call a cab and when to call police to keep people from leaving and possibly killing an innocent family on their way home.
Here in Nevada, a company called O/E has been chosen to run the TAM® – Techniques of Alcohol Management – program. These awareness classes will be required for anyone who is handling alcohol in the state of Nevada. Lance Binoniemi, the Executive Director at the National Hospitality Institute, said that, "O/E was selected because of its vast experience in running and operating training centers and for its technical expertise in the development and hosting of online learning services.”
TAM® has been an approved provider of alcohol awareness education here in Nevada for over 25 years. Alcohol education has long been required not only for bartenders and waitstaff, but also for owners, operators, managers, security guards, cashiers, stock handlers, and clerks in casinos, bars, restaurants, night clubs and grocery/convenience stores. Alcohol Education cards are valid for four years, after which the course must be re-taken.
The training is very scenario-based, and it can be completed online.
Here in Nevada we have seen the importance of this for quite a long time. Other states are just considering having mandatory alcohol server training, and no doubt they have looked to Nevada as one of the examples.
