Thanks to licensees, partners for training effort
By Lisa Scates
Liquor Control Division
Full implementation of the Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service Act is almost complete. We thank all the licensees who have been working hard to get your employees trained. We also thank our liquor industry partners who were instrumental in helping us craft this legislation.
The administrative rule hearing was held in late October and was quite successful. Many comments were received both at the hearing and in writing. After reviewing all the testimony and comments, the department made a few minor changes to the proposed rules, which will go into effect sometime in January 2012. A copy of the final rules will be available on the web at http://alcoholservertraining.mt.gov/server-training.mcpx.
All approved training providers have been busy providing training all across the state. The trainers involved in our Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service Training program, Let's Control It, have been diligently training employees across the state. Certificates continue to be processed and are taking a bit longer than normal due to the workload. Below is a chart that shows just how busy the trainers have been. Class session results are still coming in for processing, so we aren't done yet!
Now that the rule hearing is complete, we want to outline the training requirements. These are listed below:
• All licensees are required to ensure that all persons who serve or sell alcoholic beverages, including volunteers of any licensee, their immediate supervisors, and all licensees or owners of licensees who personally serve or sell alcoholic beverages on behalf of the licensee, have completed an approved responsible alcohol sales and service training class. This law does not apply to persons (volunteers) serving or selling under a special permit.
• Employees must receive training within 60 days of hire. Licensees or owners of licenses must receive training within 60 days of department approval of their ownership interest if they personally serve alcoholic beverages, or within 60 days of when they begin personally serving alcoholic beverages.
• All employees who serve or sell alcohol must receive training every three years from a state-approved training provider.
• Licensees must maintain proof of training for each employee in their employee records.
• This law does not allocate responsibility for the cost of training between the licensee and the employee. The licensee and employee need to determine this among themselves.
A list of training providers can be found at http://alcoholservertraining.mt.gov/preapproved-training.mcpx. Each company will need to be contacted individually to determine prices and training schedules.
Once again we would like to thank everyone for all their hard work and dedication in making this transition as easy as possible. Together, we make a strong partnership to help ensure that alcohol is sold and consumed responsibly.
If you have questions about liquor education, please contact Lisa Scates at (406) 444-4307 or (800) 332-6135, option 7.