Alcohol Servers Receive Free Training

Seventy bartenders and servers from the city's restaurants, clubs and retail stores received a free training course in responsible selling of alcohol last Monday, the first such program offered by the Melrose Health Department under a new requirement for servers.

The course, called "21 Proof," includes training in how to identify fake IDs. It was developed by the city of Cambridge and offered through the Melrose Liquor Licensing Commission and the Melrose Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition.

Under a city ordinance passed last year, all employees that sell or serve alcohol must receive the training and certification every three years as a requirement of the establishment's liquor license.

"This was an opportunity to help our local businesses do the right thing," Mayor Rob Dolan said in a press release after the training. "Obviously, it is in the city's best interest to have all our servers and sellers properly trained. Providing the training ourselves saves the business owners money and ensures that everyone receives uniform, high-quality training."

Melrose Health Director Ruth Clay said the city used a grant from the state to pay for the training, which was delivered by employees of the Cambridge Prevention Coalition. The clubhouse at Mount Hood Golf Course donated the space for the training.

Kathi Turner, owner of Turner's Seafood Grill & Market, said the "reinforcement of policies, procedures, and laws around responsible beverage service was very helpful," according to the mayor's press release.

"This was the first training we had. It was quite successful," said Leo Colborne, chairman of the Liquor Licensing Commission.

The Licensing Commission revamped its regulations last year after city voters approved licensing of up to three retail locations for the sale of beer and wine. The commission also established licensing of smaller establishments, with 50-99 seats, for beer and wine sales.

"A lot of the regulations were antiquated," Colborne said. 

Last month, eight licensed establishments passed an undercover city compliance check, in which a minor asked to be served alcohol without a proper ID, out of eight tested. 

In 2009, however, five out of eight establishments failed a similar compliance check when they improperly served a minor. There are 12 licensed establishments in the city.

It's that kind of situation last week's training should help to prevent.

Jim Desrosiers, club manager of Bellevue Golf Club, said the training is "very useful for businesses who are part of the community, to establish a safe environment and continue to coordinate our efforts," according to the mayor's press release.

Clay said the city does "regular compliance checks" of establishments.

Most of the city's funding for alcohol abuse prevention comes from federal grants and is focused on youth prevention.

"But we try to be as broad as possible," Clay said.

Kara Showers, coordinator of the Melrose Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, could not be reached in time to comment for this article.