We all know how easy it is to inadvertently serve or sell an alcoholic beverage to an underage person, an intoxicated patron or a habitual drunkard even when we may be alert and vigilant in order to avoid such incidents. Therefore, we must be especially concerned with the fact that much of the workforce in the hospitality industry is ill advised and imprudent about the same, simply due to inexperience.
Our firm, Responsible Vendors, Inc. teaches the laws and liabilities inherent in working in a place where alcohol is either served, sold or consumed to those in the Food and Beverage Industry who play a significant role in the sale or service of alcohol, even in an indirect way.
The Responsible Vendor Program which we administer is based on Florida’s Responsible Vendor Act, FL Statutes 561.702-706, enacted to reduce the sale of alcohol to underage patrons, to reduce alcohol related accidents, injuries and deaths, and to eliminate illegal drug activity on licensed premises. Although not mandatory, when in compliance with the responsible vendor program, it provides mitigation and exemption from suspension and revocation of an alcoholic beverage license for the illegal acts of employees for serving alcohol to underage customers and for illegal drug activity.
In civil suits, one of the first questions asked of an alcoholic beverage licensee is whether the establishment being sued is compliant with the Responsible Vendor Act.
Most important, the program provides valuable training so that staff is better informed about serving alcohol responsibly and so that they are less likely to break the law.
Naturally, not having a responsible server training program is frowned upon in the industry and in the courtroom, judges consider licensees negligent for not using it, and insurance companies ask for it.
Our firm was born out of the law firm that authored the legislation known as the Responsible Vendor Act and we retain lobbyists in Tallahassee lobbying the Legislature on behalf of the licensees we represent.
Our online platform offers courses 24/7 that can be taken on a smart phone, tablet, or PC. Options include zoomed sessions live for those who prefer an instructor who can answer questions on the spot.
Our combined experience in the hospitality field, with other training programs and our law firm’s practice devoted to alcoholic beverage law enabled us to develop a program that informs staff in practical matters and protects businesses from certain exposure that when staff is properly trained they can hope to avoid.
Please call us at (305) 628-2428 or 1-800-329-7081 or email us at for more information about giving us the opportunity to educate your greatest resources!
Respectfully,
Lori Chadroff
Chief Executive Officer