Local organizations tackle binge drinking, educate bartenders and servers

Local organizations are working together in an attempt to reduce underage drinking, binge drinking and drunk driving.

The YMCA and the Rio Grande Safe Communities held a responsive beverage service (RBS) training for businesses that sell and serve alcohol.

“It’s a certified course,” YMCA Executive Director Jeremy Jordan said. “This class helps those who participate understand how to properly look at folks that may be drunk and check IDs.”

Jordan said the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has about 40 different recognized observations of someone who may look underage and who may be intoxicated. “What they are learning today are what those characteristics are and what to specifically look for when checking IDs and then when they are looking at the customers coming in to purchase the alcohol,” Jordan said.

Those in attendance learn how to interact with the customer to identify signs of intoxication, like slurred speech.

Organizers held two sessions Monday, which included training for on-premise locations and off-premise locations. On-premise locations include bars, restaurants and lounges. Off-premise locations include convenience stores, and grocery stores.

“We surveyed about 1,200 people and about 62 percent of them said that they believe alcohol is a problem in our community,” Jordan said.

Jordan told ABC-7 social responsibility is at the core of the YMCA’s mission.

“Our community has a big problem with DWIs,” Jordan said. “The YMCA understand that this may not be the end-all or the magic bullet to end DWIs, but it will have a drastic impact to ensure that bartenders understand their role in this chain.”

Bartender Sarah Urena agreed with Jordan, saying, “It’s important to know what’s going on.”

Bartenders can get in trouble for over-serving.

“TABC has strict guidelines that (bartenders) are held liable if they serve to any intoxicated person,” Jordan said. According to Jordan, fines range from $500 to $1,500.

Urena has been a bartender for eight years; she is currently serving at Rocky’s Bordertown Cantina and Grill in East El Paso. “Anytime anyone gets into an accident or hurts anyone of any sort, the person that is serving them is completely liable,” she said. “You can go to jail for it as well, so it is important to know what you are doing to prevent that from happening and from people getting hurt.”

Randy Chavez is Urena’s boss and also the owner of Rocky’s. He told ABC-7 that he attended the event to help his employees and himself know more about alcoholic beverage serving.

“It’s a good way to reinforce to my employees that we are a part of the community and we need to take care of what we are doing, because it can be dangerous if we don’t handle things the right way and don’t act responsibly when serving,” Chavez said. “I think the serving responsibility starts at the top, so if I am a bar owner I have to show my employees that I am committed to making sure people are served responsibly.”

Local businesses that complete the training are issued certificates and licenses or permits that would assist if any TABC codes are violated.