Alcohol servers: Are your tips certified?

STANHOPE — The Center for Prevention and Counseling will be offering a free TIPS Responsible Beverage Server training on Thursday, Feb. 13 at Louise Childs Library, 21 Sparta-Stanhope Road, Stanhope, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., instructing servers how to prevent drunk driving, underage drinking and alcohol abuse.

Session participants will become certified in the TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) program and will receive a TIPS certification card valid for three years. Each establishment represented will also receive 2013 ID Checking Guide Books and an Incident Report Binder, free of charge ($55 value). Coffee and refreshments will be provided.

TIPS trainings enhance the people skills of the servers, sellers and consumers of alcohol. Program participants are trained by a certified instructor to detect the signs of intoxication and gain the confidence needed to intervene effectively to prevent alcohol related problems. Participants also learn to identify underage people and people who are already intoxicated.

Participants learn with other alcohol servers how best to recognize and address drunk patrons, identify underage drinkers and implement appropriate measures encouraging a responsible, safe and productive establishment. Most who have attended TIPS trainings agree that it’s always helpful to review and improve their skills.

Participants are tested after the training which includes watching video examples of scenarios, role playing with each other and discussing real situations that might occur in their places of business. This training offers a complimentary “logbook” for each establishment where every employee can record information about their shift verifying that the staff and business took every step to address situations responsibly.

Registration is required and limited. Contact Tina at 973-383-4787 extension 236 or email tina@centerforprevention.org.