Training Servers Can Save Lives
An Overview of Server Training’s Purpose, History and Effectiveness
Illinois Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Other Drug and Violence Prevention
Eastern Illinois University
Misuse of alcohol is responsible for thousands of deaths each year. In 2000, alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents were responsible for the deaths of 16,653 people and more than 300,000 injuries in the United States (Guide, 2004). In 2003, an estimated 17,057 people in the United States died as the result of an alcohol-related motor vehicle accident (NHTSA, 2003).
It is apparent, with fatality and injury numbers so high, something needs to be done. One of the programs developed to combat these problems is alcohol server training. Server training includes programs “designed to help servers develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for responsible serving and intervention” (McKnight, 1996, p.1). Server training is a vital tool in the battle against underage drinking and driving under the influence. It is important to train managers and servers in establishments that serve alcohol because bars and restaurants that serve alcohol are the largest sources of alcohol-impaired drivers (McKnight, 1993). Server training seeks to stop service alcohol to underage individuals, stop service to patrons who are already intoxicated, as well as monitoring the number and speed of patrons’ drinks consumed.
Server training programs first surfaced in the 1960’s. Later on, in the 1980’s, server training gained national attention with the creation of the TIPS program (Training for Intervention Procedures) by a privately owned enterprise and the Techniques of Alcohol Management program developed by the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association. The United States Department of Transportation began to offer their own courses in server training, and after a few years many different organizations were offering server training programs and courses. Server training programs gained a great deal of popularity after several court cases resulted in awards to multiple alcohol-related crash victims at the expense of the bars and/or restaurants that had served the individuals (McKnight, 1996).
Server training has been implemented in states across the nation. As of January 1, 2000, 11 states mandated server training programs for all licensed establishments, and 10 established laws that provided incentives for establishments that voluntarily participate in server training (Guide, 2004).
Overall, studies have shown that server training can change servers’ and managers’ knowledge and beliefs regarding serving alcohol and can change server behavior such as increases in offering of non-alcohol beverages and transportation options (McKnight, 1993). Available research on the topic of server training reveals mixed results. A study by conducted in 1991 (Howard-Pitney et al., 1991), revealed that server training had a positive result on knowledge and beliefs of servers, though little impact on servers’ behavior. However, this study also found that treatment establishments (those that participated in server training) engaged in more responsible practices than control establishments such as advertising low-alcohol or nonalcoholic drinks. Treatment establishments also showed less evidence of employees drinking on the job. Another study by Russ and Geller (1987) revealed that servers who went through TIPS training were much more likely to perform interventions than untrained servers. These interventions included activities such as checking ID’s to be sure they were not serving underage individuals, offering food or water, delaying service, commenting on speed/quantity of consumption, or making a comment regarding driving such as asking the patron if they were driving or had a designated driver. Pseudopatrons served by trained servers reached substantially lower BAC levels than did those served by untrained servers. Taking these results into consideration, it is reasonable to believe that if server training were implemented on a wider scale, patrons who drink at licensed establishments such as bars and restaurants would reach lower BAC levels due to the servers’ ability to control the amount of alcohol a patron consumes. This, in turn, should result in fewer patrons driving vehicles with BAC levels above the legal limit and reduce alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes.
While server training shows some promise for decreasing motor vehicle crashes and service to underage individuals, it has been suggested that server training will be most effective if it is paired with law enforcement efforts as well as modified alcohol policies within drinking establishments. If laws are passed regarding server training and are not enforced, those laws serve as little deterrent for violations. However, if the public and servers believe that the violations are likely to be punished, it will become a deterrent (McKnight, 1993). Individual establishment alcohol policies are also important, however. Policies such as prohibiting the sale of pitchers of beer or multiple drinks at one time allow servers to more easily monitor patrons. These policies also provide servers with guidelines, as well as support in a situation where they need to intervene.
With benefits such as decreasing alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents, service of alcohol to underage individuals, and reducing patrons’ BAC levels (thus decreasing many alcohol-related problems such as violence, sexual assault, and vandalism), it is easy to see why communities and states across America have already passed laws regarding server training. In most cases, community members are eager to experience the benefits associated with server training, and in most cases management at drinking establishments is eager to avoid legal involvement and provide responsible service to the community. Working together with law enforcement and establishment managers, server training can aid in creating a healthier and safer community environment.
Guide To Community Preventive Services, (2004). Effectiveness of Intervention Training Programs for Servers of Alcoholic Beverages. Retrieved from www.thecommunityguide.org/mvoi/mvoi-alc- server-train.pdf June 15, 2005.
Howard-Pitney, B., Johnson, M.D., Altman, D.G., Hopkins, R. & Hammond, N. (1991). Responsible alcohol service: A study of server, manager, and environment impact. American Journal of Public Health, 81, 197-199.
McKnight, J. (1993). Server intervention. Alcohol Health & Research World, 17(1), 76-83.
McKnight, J. (1996). Server intervention to reduce alcohol-involved traffic crashes. Alcohol Health & Research World, 20(4), 227-236.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), (2005). Alcohol involvement in fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes, 2003. NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, p.9. Retrieved from www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/Rpts/2005/809822.pdf.
Russ, N.W., & Geller, E. S. (1987). Training bar personnel to prevent drunken driving: A field evaluation. American Journal of Public Health, 77, 952-954.