New employee training DVD to promote responsible drinking

November 1, 2007

Based on a February 2007 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Health Center survey, 25 percent of UW-Whitewater students within a one-month period did not consume any alcohol. The survey also found that 50 percent of students do not partake in binge drinking. In fact, UW-Whitewater students believe that other students are drinking twice the amount they actually are. Now there is an employee training DVD available to keep encouraging this responsible behavior and promote safe drinking habits at local bars.

The Whitewater Police Department, Alcohol and Other Drugs Abuse Prevention Coalition and UW-Whitewater have teamed up with local bars to create a DVD that addresses issues concerning the police, bar owners and community members.

The training focuses on important areas including: fake IDs, over serving alcohol and unruly patrons. UW-Whitewater theatre students act out information on how to deal with and avoid problem situations through police presentations and theatrical scenarios.

Amy Margulies, a counselor at the university Center said, "The DVD represents a major cooperative effort between police, the university and tavern owners to reduce the possible negative consequences from alcohol misuse in our community. It provides a great training tool for those responsible for serving/selling liquor in Whitewater and should prove a positive addition to other training employees receive."

In the DVD, local police provide key information about the law, including criminal and civil liabilities that can be incurred by bar owners and their employees. Bar owners identify ways employees can avoid serving underage and/or intoxicated people as well as ways to de-escalate situations with difficult customers. The actors bring an element of reality and excitement to the DVD training.

The DVD is designed to be part of new employee trainings and has been distributed, free of charge, to each liquor license holder (including bars, restaurants and liquor stores) in Whitewater.

For more information, contact Chief James Coan, Whitewater Police Department (262) 472-0555 or Amy Margulies, UW-Whitewater (262) 472-1305.