RESPONSIBILITY STRESSED TO ALCOHOL SERVERS

Bartenders and waitresses who serve alcohol have a responsibility to see that their customers do not overindulge.

At a training seminar Tuesday, members of the Southeast Missouri Restaurant Association learned about their liability when customers drink and about underage drinking and ways to help prevent customers from becoming intoxicated.

"If you serve me and I am intoxicated, you are responsible," said Dennis F. Zulpo, a training specialist with Anheuser-Busch. "That's the state and federal law. To protect you, you have the right to refuse to serve an alcoholic beverage to anyone."

Zulpo said the last person to serve an intoxicated person is responsible for that person under Missouri's negligence standards. "You are negligent in serving that intoxicated customer," he said.

The training was sponsored by the Southeast Missouri Restaurant Association in conjunction with Anheuser-Busch, Inc. and the Cape Girardeau Community Traffic Safety Program.

Steve Bryant, president of the Southeast Missouri Restaurant Association, said: "Responsible service of alcohol is what we're after. No one in the restaurant, saloon or motel business wants to be held liable or to jeopardize our business or our customers' safety.

Bryant said: "We're not for drunk driving; we're not for car wrecks or all the other things that can happen. On the other hand, we are not promoting prohibition of alcohol. We think responsible service of alcohol is possible."

Bryant said the liability issue is of particular concern. "The environment of society today is to sue first and ask questions later. Most restaurant owners are independent businessmen. A lawsuit can crush a business."

Doc Cain, who owns Port Cape Girardeau restaurant and the River City Yacht Club, was among members attending the program.

Cain said: "We must take precautions and do the best job we can do when dealing with this sensitive issue. We don't want someone getting intoxicated and then getting into a car."

Jim Anderson, district supervisor of the Division of Liquor Control, talked with participants about Missouri's liquor laws and answered questions.

Zulpo presented the TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures by Servers) program, created by the Health Education Foundation of Washington, D.C.

"Retailers are partners in our business," Zulpo said. "We want to help servers understand when a customer is getting intoxicated and how to handle those customers.

"Years ago, customers said belly up to the bar and drink 'till you drop. That's not the case any more. Our customers are more educated consumers who take better care of themselves," Zulpo said. "We have had to respond to that change."

Those attending learned ways to determine if a person is becoming intoxicated and ways to approach that person without making them angry or embarrassed.

Sharee Galnore, coordinator of the Cape Girardeau Community Traffic Safety Program, said, "We are trying to make everyone responsible for themselves, but they also have to be responsible for the customers."