Bar staff pull weight as well as pints

BAR staff are learning to pull their weight as well as pints to create a responsible drinking environment in pubs, clubs and hotels around the country.

More than 500 bar workers and managers are expected to have completed a Responsible Serving of Alcohol (RSA) training programme run by CERT by the end of next month.

The RSA programme was establish to support the National Alcohol Policy that aims to reduce the prevalence of alcohol-related problems by emphasising moderation in alcohol consumption.

Three of the key areas that the programme concentrates on are underage drinking, intoxicated customers and drink-driving.

Bar staff are taught how to handle a difficult customer and how to identify the signs of increasing drunkenness. They will also learn about alcohol and its effects on the body to prevent drunkenness.

The RSA programme has also been designed to help licence holders develop policies and procedures about serving alcohol to minimise alcohol-related problems.

The programme is supported by MEAS (Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society Limited), an organisation to promote moderation and responsibility and the Health Promotion Unit of the Department of Health and Children.