A DRIVE to teach bar staff not to serve drinkers who have had too much alcohol has been launched in Derby.
Thirty bar owners, licence holders and workers have this week been trained and examined on a responsible alcohol retailing course in a campaign called Intoxicated.
Jointly run by the police and the police and crime commissioner's office, those who pass will be given bar runners, beer mats and literature to show drunk people they will not be served.
Intoxicated will be spread out to the city centre "night time economy" before Christmas and is aimed as a 365-days-a-year campaign.
Deputy commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa was at yesterday's launch. He said: "Alcohol-related harm remains as a key priority area both for the police and our office.
"We want to get the message out to licence holders that it is an offence to serve a person who is drunk and for those who have had too much alcohol to realise that they will not be served if they get to the bar in a drunken state.
"A similar scheme has been running in the north of the county and I have been out with officers on foot to see if it has been a success there, and I believe it has."
Inspector Adrian Gascoyne, of the police licensing team, said the training would enable licence holders to pass down knowledge to staff.
He said: "We recognise that it is difficult for staff in a busy bar, pub or club to make that quick decision as to whether to refuse to serve someone they suspect might have drunk too much.
"We are aware there is a risk involved with them saying to someone 'sorry, you're not being served'. when they are on a night out with friends.
"But we have to keep the city centre safe and during busy Friday and Saturday nights our custody suite can be almost full with people who have been arrested due to alcohol-related issues.
"Derby city centre already has purple flag status as a safe and vibrant place to visit and we want that to continue."
The training has been done by Taylor Hall Associates of Oakwood. Chris Taylor, from the training firm, said: "The objective is to get bar staff to better understand the legislation. It is a £90 fine for an establishment caught serving alcohol to drunk people and we want the bars and pubs to be fully trained to avoid that happening."
One licence holder who has taken the course is Rhiannon Jervis, of Vines Wine Bar in Sadler Gate. She said: "We already have a policy where we point-blank refuse to serve anyone coming into the bar who is drunk.
"Taking the training will further enhance my skills and knowledge of the legislation that surrounds the issue and enable me to pass on that knowledge to my colleagues."
