Once upon a time, in a land not too far from here, an 18 year old entered a drinking contest at a local bar. As his friends and the bar staff cheered him on, he threw back 25 shooters made from two different liquors in 15 minutes, not to mention the six beers he consumed before his victory. About 45 minutes later, a friend put him in a taxi, took him home, and left him lying on the stairs in the heated entryway of his apartment building, thinking he would sober up and make it upstairs. He lost consciousness and died within two hours. His blood alcohol level was 0.32, about four times the legal limit.
This is a true story. A $230,000 lawsuit was filed against the owner of the bar and two employees who oversaw the drinking contest. The establishment was placed on a five month suspension and lost the right to operate VLT’s, pending charges. The case attracted national media attention and cost the owner of the establishment revenue and a lot of bad publicity.
There are countless cases like this popping up all over the country. Many provinces have responded by increasing fines for over-serving and have cracked down on reckless activities such as binge-drinking contests. In some cases, bar owners, servers, and party hosts have been criminally charged and found guilty of failing to provide duty of care. Here’s the truth: If you provide alcohol to an individual to the point where he/she becomes intoxicated, you are responsible for that person until they become sober. This is the law.
From 2007 to 2008, the number of alcohol-related injuries and fatalities increased in Saskatchewan. In 2008, there were 987 injuries and 74 deaths in alcohol-related crashes in the province. This is a substantial increase from 2007, when the province saw 849 injuries and 45 deaths. The need for good risk-management strategies is a must.
That's why the Saskatchewan Tourism Education Council (STEC) developed the Serve It Right Saskatchewan (SIRS) program. The SIRS program provides consistent training for the sale and service of alcohol to ensure that alcohol-related activities are conducted in a socially responsible manner. This program is applicable whether you work on premise (lounge, bar, club) or are involved in other activities (special events) that include the sale and service of alcohol. When implemented properly, SIRS training can help you and your staff reduce the risk of liability and enhance the safety of your premises.
Investing in the development and training of your staff will make a difference in the face of a risky situation. SIRS addresses ways of identifying intoxication, how to handle situations involving minors, effective approaches in discontinuing the sale or service of alcohol, and facts and figures on legal responsibilities and liabilities. The $30.00 per person investment will allow you to take a major step in ensuring that your staff is well informed and prepared to responsibly serve customers.
SIRS is supported by the Saskatchewan Server Intervention Program (SSIP) committee and is comprised of representatives from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA), Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), the Hotel and Hospitality Association (SHHA), the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, the Wines and Spirits Association, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Help reduce the risk. For more information, visit our website at www.sirs.ca or contact STEC at (306) 933-7186.
What can we do as an industry to reduce Saskatchewan’s recent increase in alcohol-related injuries and deaths?
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