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Understanding the Responsible Serving Of Alcohol

The responsible serving of alcohol is an integral part of any alcohol licence and plays a huge role in ensuring the well being of staff, patrons and the premises.

Binge drinking and anti-social behaviour is becoming increasingly common up and down the UK and cost the tax payer around £2.7 billion every year.

It is vitally important that landlords and business owners operate a strict responsible serving of alcohol policy to ensure that health and safety of those in and around the premises is maintained at all times.

Sadly, drunken behaviour and violence are the most common bi-products of an irresponsible approach to selling alcohol so what can a licence premises do to encourage the responsible serving of alcohol?

 

  • Adhere to all licensing regulations such as the personal licence holder policy

  • Refuse to serve patrons who are intoxicated and under age

  • Provide adequate staff training to deal with drunken behaviour

  • Maintain a well lit, clean and friendly establishment which is never overcrowded

  • Encourage the sale of soft drinks and food

 

Signing up for PLH Online's personal licence holder course will give you guidance and help understanding a broader list of issues associated with the responsible serving of alcohol.

 

Licensed premises and alcohol

As well as adhering to a basic responsible serving of alcohol strategy, it is also worth considering whether creating a 'good practice' strategy would benefit your premises further.

A good practice strategy includes a series of protocols that encourage the smooth running of any premises as well as giving staff structure and instruction in any given situation.

For example, any club, bar or pub should ideally keep an incident book where staff can record incidents such as a disturbances or crimes that may be reported to the police and be required as evidence in the future.

The strategy will also include instruction for other members of staff such as security and door staff who are often vital members of any team working on a licensed premises with alcohol.