Youngstown Daily Legal News

Ohio hotel industry partners with server-centric alcohol training program

KEITH ARNOLD
Special to the Legal News
Published: August 15, 2016

The professional association representing Ohio’s hoteliers — the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association — has announced its plan to initiate a program aimed at eliminating the liability risk associated with hotel bars and restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages.

OHLA is expected to employ a program called TIPS, an acronym for Training for Intervention Procedures, which is known as a global leader in education and training for the responsible service, sale, and consumption of alcohol, according to the press release announcing the collaboration.

“Partnership with TIPS is an important part of our focus on increasing professionalism, guest service and safety in our industry,” OHLA Executive Director Joe Savarise said in the statement. “TIPS training is an important step forward in providing the highest-quality programs and greatest value to our members.”

The program, which boasts a 35-year record of efficacy, is a skills-based training program designed to prevent intoxication, underage drinking, and drunk driving.

According to Savarise, OHLA members now will have the opportunity to become certified TIPS trainers who, in turn, can train staff on proper techniques for safely serving alcohol.

In addition to providing necessary skills to staff, the program aims to arm servers with the confidence to prevent illegal sales, the press release detailed. Trainers must successfully complete a two-day, train-the-trainer workshop. Workshops in Cincinnati and Columbus are planned over the next several months.

An OHLA member also will have the opportunity to train their staff via eTIPS, the online responsible-alcohol-server-training course designed for hotels, restaurants, and bars.

TIPS developer, Health Communications Inc., is expected to offer discounts to association members for both eTIPS and the upcoming TIPS train-the-trainer workshops.

The first of its kind training program, TIPS continues to set industry standards, with endorsements form numerous academics, public officials and government agencies on the basis that is has saved lives and is critical to the progress made in reducing alcohol-related incidents.

Savarise noted that in addition to preventing the misuse of alcohol, the program will aid establishments in reducing their exposure to alcohol liability lawsuits, lowering insurance premiums, and improving overall customer service and satisfaction.

“I applaud OHLA for providing their members with the opportunity to train TIPS,” HCI President & CEO Adam Chafetz said of the partnership. “Whether it be handling a refusal situation or spotting underage drinkers, TIPS has the ability to build bridges and break barriers within a community.”

TIPS has certified over 4 million participants and trainers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and in excess of 50 different countries, according to the press release.

OHLA’s rollout of the TIPS benefit to members is expected later this month, the statement detailed. For more information about OHLA, visit www.ohla.org. Click on www.gettips.com for details of TIPS programming.

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