On May 29, bar, restaurant and convenience store owners and staff received training that provided them with tools to help reduce underage drinking and drunk driving. The Responsible Beverage Seller/Server Training was taught by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Rand Maker and Sgt. Mark Bridgham at Brady’s Restaurant in Boothbay Harbor.

There were 19 attendees from nine local establishments who successfully completed the training, which covered Maine’s liquor laws and best practices for managing an establishment that serves or sells alcohol. Additional topics included handling a visibly intoxicated patron, spotting fake ID’s, proper serving sizes and amounts, and much more. Certification is provided from the Bureau of Alcohol Beverages and Lottery Operations and is good for three years.

“Chief Maker and Sgt. Bridgham encourage people to ask questions in these trainings, and they candidly discuss best practices for spotting fake ID’s and handling intoxicated customers. They focus on laws and liabilities as well, making it an excellent training for business owners and managers. I recommend the training for anyone in the industry, whether they’re new sellers, seasonal servers, or tenured business owners,” says Jess Breithaupt, Project Coordinator for Healthy Lincoln County.

On behalf of Healthy Lincoln County and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, thank you to the following businesses for taking this important step toward prevention: Boathouse Bistro Tapas Bar & Restaurant, Boothbay Craft Brewery, Brady’s Restaurant, Cupacity, Dresden Take Out, Kaler’s Restaurant, Pier 1 Pizza & Pub, Waterstreet Bistro (formerly Le Garage), and The Whale’s Tale, and Seafarer’s Pub.

There are also steps that anyone can take to reduce underage drinking and drunk driving. When someone is carded at a store, a small thanks to the clerk or server for checking your ID can go a long way to preventing underage drinking. At home, secure and monitor alcohol by keeping it locked in a cabinet, especially if there are kids or teens at home. If family or friends are going out, make sure they know who to call for a safe ride home.

Any business that is interested in hosting or attending a future Responsible Beverage Seller/Server Training can contact Jess Breithaupt by phone at 563-1330 or e-mail jbreithaupt@healthylincolncounty.org