Volunteers serving alcohol at a special event must follow several legal and safety protocols to ensure responsible alcohol service and legal compliance. Typically, these include checking IDs, recognizing signs of intoxication, and following established policies for responsible serving.
Key Requirements for Volunteers Serving Alcohol
- Check IDs: Volunteers must verify that all patrons are of legal drinking age before serving alcohol.
- Remove intoxicated patrons: Volunteers should be vigilant and prepared to refuse service and remove anyone exhibiting signs of intoxication to prevent over-service and ensure safety.
- Follow legal alcohol service laws: Volunteers are expected to adhere to local, state, or provincial laws pertaining to alcohol service, including not serving minors or intoxicated individuals.
- Training: Proper training in responsible alcohol service, such as BASSET or similar programs, is recommended or required in some jurisdictions.
- Age restrictions: Some guidelines suggest volunteers should be over a certain age, often 21 or 25, and fully trained before serving alcohol.
Additional Considerations
- No alcohol consumption by volunteers: Volunteers and staff are typically prohibited from consuming alcohol during their shifts.
- Supervision and documentation: It is recommended that alcohol servers be supervised by an experienced coordinator, keep logs of service, and undergo risk management training.
- Legal liability: Hosts and organizers should understand legal liabilities, including liability laws like dram shop statutes, and may need to carry insurance such as liquor liability coverage.
Summary
In summary, volunteers serving alcohol at a special event must check IDs, monitor and control intoxication, follow all relevant laws, receive proper training, and abstain from drinking while on duty. These steps help promote safety, legal compliance, and responsible alcohol service.
