The TIPS Program teaches liquor store employees how to successfully identify and handle potentially dangerous situations within their stores. Each staff member is taught how to recognize when a customer is intoxicated or underage and address the situation appropriately.
Employees at several Bourbon Street Wine & Liquors locations in Hunterdon and Warren County recently completed TIPS (Training in Intervention Procedures) certification training.
The TIPS Program teaches liquor store employees how to successfully identify and handle potentially dangerous situations within their stores. Each staff member is taught how to recognize when a customer is intoxicated or underage and address the situation appropriately.
Participants learn intervention techniques to prevent the illegal sale of alcohol to minors and how to handle intoxicated customers and keep them from harming themselves and others. The purpose of TIPS is to help people create environments that promote safety and responsibility wherever alcohol is sold, served, or consumed.
The training was a collaboration of the Coalition of Healthy and Safe Communities, a program of the Family Guidance Center of Warren County, Community Prevention Resources of Warren County, and Hunterdon Prevention Resources.
"Knowledge is power and you can never get enough, whether it's something to refresh on or something new to learn," said Amanda Karpew, who organized the training for Bourbon Street. "It's a great program and well worthwhile."
Representatives of the Coalition of Healthy and Safe Communities conducted the training. In all, 27 employees from Bourbon Street Wines & Liquors' seven store locations attended. This included every manager and assistant manager plus other employees at all four of their Hunterdon County locations (Califon, Clinton Township, Flemington and Lebanon Borough) of all three Warren County stores (Pohatcong and two Phillipsburg stores), and were certified in TIPS.
Among the specific topics highlighted in the training: Addresses checking I.D.s and how to handle a situation if given a fake I.D.; Addresses refusal of service if the employee has reason to believe alcohol is being purchased to be diverted to an underage drinker; Addresses behavioral cues and intoxication rate factors that employees should take into consideration when making a sale; Addresses employee liability issues around the above issues; Provides employees with a skill set to effectively adapt policy to practice.
Completion of this training also allows retail owners/employers to seek reduced insurance premiums.
For more information about TIPS training for retail stores as well as restaurants or bars serving alcohol, call Diane Bonelli of Prevention Connections, a program of the Family Guidance Center of Warren County at 908-223-1985.