MD: Liquor control board asked to amend server policy for nonprofit events
by Renée Shreve, Staff Writer
September 19, 2019
“For the past five years, I feel that the health department and the board have made great strides to find and reduce underage and binge drinking for our citizens in the county,” GCHD Alcohol and Drug Prevention Coordinator Brenda Sisler said at the liquor board’s meeting last week.
She asked members Michael Fratz, Lisa Herman and David Moe to continue their efforts to protect the community’s health and safety by requiring Class C license holders, both multi-event and single event, to have at least one certified TIPS server per 500 attendees.
“We want the people in the nonprofit community to realize we’re not trying to constrain them,” stressed Brian Murray, coalition action team chairman.
The idea about changing the server requirement developed nearly one year ago, culminating in a resolution of support signed by about 100 local individuals and groups, including town councils, law enforcement personnel, fire departments, educators and businesses.
“We’ve come a long way in the last nine months trying to quantify what we’re trying to ask for,” Murray said.
He thanked Debbe Owston, license commission administrator, for providing technical expertise in explaining procedures and other details.
Murray noted many resolution signers thought one trained server per 500 attendees was too low, and that perhaps one per 200 or even 100 would be better. He indicated the 500 figure could be revised in the future.
“We’re just proposing a framework as a starting point to address the issues,” Murray said.
The “Resolution of Support: An Important First Step in Supporting the Health and Safety of Young People in Garrett County at Class C Licensee Community Events” notes the following:
- Last year, Garrett County hosted around 40 nonprofit events with Class C alcohol licenses, and those events are growing in attendance each year. There are five large annual events that have 500 to 2,000 people in attendance.
- Garrett has the highest rate of binge drinking for high school students of any county in Maryland at 26.9 percent, compared to 22.1 percent for the next highest.
- In 2018, 39 percent of driving deaths in Garrett County involved alcohol, which surpasses the state average of 30 percent.
- In 2017, Garrett County youth had a higher rate, 20.8 percent, of getting in a car with a driver who had been drinking, compared to the state youth rate, 14.2 percent.
- Research has shown that alcohol awareness for servers is an important and effective tool in preventing alcohol problems at the community level when coupled with adequate enforcement.
- Training more individuals serving alcohol will improve health and safety practices at community events and enhance the quality of life for all county citizens.
Owston noted state law does not require nonprofit license holders to have training. Garrett is the only county that has any type of trained-server policy.
“We’re ahead of the game,” Moe said.
Owston indicated she and the board encourage nonprofits, through conversations and literature, to have trained staff in several key positions and areas.
“You have encouraged the nonprofits to have as many volunteers trained at their events as possible,” Sisler acknowledged.
She noted, however, that TIPS is currently free through the liquor control board and health department, thanks to grant funding. If a cost is involved in the future, then the number of participants could decline.
“I do recall comments from one organization that if they had to pay for their training, which would be about $30 per person, then they would only have one person trained there (at an event),” Sisler said.
Murray asked about the time frame for the board’s decision on changing the server policy.
Moe said the members would take the resolution under consideration and advisement and get back to him.
“Our attorney recommends we gather your information,” Owston said. “We’ll discuss it, and then we’ll come forward with any response.”
In the meantime, the Garrett County Drug-Free Communities Coalition is encouraging local residents to ask questions about and/or voice their support for the policy change by calling the liquor control board at 301-334-1925.