Responsibility in Alcohol Retailing Aims To understand the nature, strength and effects of alcohol To appreciate the need to avoid disorderly conduct on licensed premises and the social responsibilities of all licence holders Learning Outcomes: Understand the nature and strength of alcohol and its effects on the body Understand the rights and legal duties of the responsible persons in relation to the operation of licensed premises Assessment criteria State the legal definition of alcohol in the Licensing Act 2003 State what ‘supply of alcohol’ means State how the strength of an alcoholic drink is measured Define the terms ‘alcohol-free’ and ‘low-alcohol’ State the UK government’s sensible drinking advice State the intoxicating nature of alcohol Identify the effects of alcohol on the body State the duty to refuse the sale of alcohol to a drunken person State the law and industry guidelines on irresponsible drinks promotions Identify anti-violence strategies that can be adopted on licensed premises Identify the consequences of allowing illegal drug use and dealing on licensed premises Identify who is legally responsible for preventing disorderly conduct on licensed premises State penalties for allowing drunk and disorderly conduct on licensed premises Suggestions for training resources The government’s alcohol strategy Drink driving posters/beer mats or other point-of-sale material Alcohol unit calculator 7 Responsibility in Alcohol Retailing

The strength of alcoholic drinks An intoxicating substance with an alcohol by volume (abv) of over 0.5% Amounts of alcohol in drinks as a percentage abv: Most spirits 40% Wines 8 - 16% Beers 3 - 9% Ciders 3 - 8.5% Must provide customers with accurate information regarding alcohol content and the availability of small measures The alcohol-free and low alcohol should be explained to candidates as these are easily confused Abv is the amount of pure alcohol by volume contained in a drink. The higher the abv the more alcohol it contains Alcohol-free – no more than 0.05% Low-alcohol – no more than 1.2%

Calculating units Alcoholic drinks A unit of alcohol is either: Different types and quantities of drinks contain different amounts of units of alcohol A unit of alcohol is either: 8 grams of alcohol, or 10 millilitres of alcohol To calculate the number of units use the following formula: Consumers often find it difficult to calculate the number of units contained in a drink due to increased strength and larger measures. Volume of drink (ml) x abv (% alcohol by volume) x 0.001 = number of units of alcohol

Units of alcohol Work out the following: double shot of gin (50ml) at 40% pint of bitter (568ml) at 4.5% glass of wine (125ml) at 13% These drinks contain approximately 1 unit: A single shot of (25ml) of spirits An ordinary measure (50ml) of sherry/port or vermouth, abv 20% Ask candidates to guess the number of units first then help them to work out the number of units using the formula. Are there any surprises? Assure them that they will not be asked to use this formula or know how may units are contained in the drink’s basic alcohol drinks. The answers are: 2 units 2.6 units 1.6 units A small (125ml) glass of wine with an abv of 8% Half a pint of normal strength (abv 4%) beer/lager or cider

Effects of alcohol consumption Consumption affects emotional, physical and mental state A person becomes drunk when alcohol enters the body quicker than it is eliminated The speed at which it enters the bloodstream, depends upon: quantity and strength consumed size of person gender age, tolerance and general health amount and type of food eaten time of day The removal of alcohol from the body begins after 20 minutes. It takes about 1 hour to remove 1 unit of alcohol from the body. This is why some people may be over the legal driving limit the day after. Discuss steps that licence holders might take to discourage drinking and driving. 1 hour to remove 1 unit of alcohol

Guidelines and patterns of consumption UK Chief Medical Officer’s lower-risk drinking guideline Categories of consumption: Sensible drinking Hazardous drinker Harmful drinker Binge drinking MEN 14 units per week to be spread over the week Sustained heavy or chronic drinking may lead to alcoholic addiction and health problems. WOMEN 14 units per week to be spread evenly over the week New guidelines from UK Chief Medical Officers’ replaces original advice of 1995 and warns that drinking any level of alcohol increases the risk of developing a range of illnesses including cancers. The main changes are: a single guideline of up to 14 units per week for both men and women spread the 14 units evenly over 3 days or more have several drink-free days each week limit the total amount of alcohol on any single occasion, drink more slowly and alternate with water no level of alcohol is safe to drink during pregnancy

Blood alcohol levels Never assess a person’s ability to drive legally Best advice is not to drink and drive Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is an objective measure used in drink-driving offences Driving limits BAC of 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood or 35 micrograms in 100ml of breath Drunkenness is a subjective assessment of a person’s behaviour Discuss with candidates any strategies they may use to discourage drink-driving. The drink-driving limits are: 80 mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath

Promoting lower-risk drinking Give clear information on alcohol content Encourage awareness of smaller measures Provide lower-strength alternatives Display products responsibly Offer range of food and hot beverages Discuss with candidates the consequences of excessive drinking including: Short term dangers for individuals Longer term social and health problems Consequences for business Consequences for society Provide wide range of soft drinks Train staff to promote lower-risk drinking

Legal duties The premises licence holder, the DPS and those with the authority to sell alcohol have a legal duty to: prevent disorderly conduct refuse to serve a person who is drunk ask disorderly or drunken persons to leave Maximum Penalty £1000 Serving a person who is or who appears to be drunk is an offence The sale of alcohol or allowing the sale to take place carries a level 3 penalty - £1,000 fine It is also an offence knowingly to allow the sale to a drunk person to take place This also carries a fixed penalty fine which can be imposed by an officer in uniform present at the time Anyone who knowingly buys or attempts to buy alcohol for consumption on the premises, by a person who is drunk, is committing an offence Everyone on licensed premises has a duty to prevent disorderly conduct on the premises Police assistance may be needed to remove drunk and disorderly persons. They commit an offence if they fail to leave when asked to do so KEY POINT It is an offence to sell or permit the sale of alcohol to a person who is drunk Alcohol must not be sold if it is intended for a person who is drunk.

Irresponsible alcohol promotions Promotions that encourage over-consumption of alcohol contributing to anti-social behaviour and drunkenness A mandatory condition on licensed premises and club premises must not allow irresponsible promotions such as: drinking games unlimited or unspecified free alcohol offers or incentives for specific groups alcohol as a prize promotions linked to sporting events promotional signs or posters encouraging drunkenness dispensing alcohol directly into the mouth Irresponsible promotions should not be operated as there is a risk that they may result in the overconsumption of alcohol and/or drunk and disorderly behaviour Ask candidates to identify and then discuss any irresponsible promotions of alcohol they may have encountered

How can the threat of conflict be reduced? Remain vigilant Provide efficient and effective service Depersonalise refusals Monitor areas including toilets/car parks Employ security guards/door supervisors Use CCTV Encourage a social mix of customers For on-trade also consider: Class Question Ask candidates to identify ways in which the risk of conflict or violence is reduced on their premises. search policy anti-violence policy door supervisors

Illegal drugs It is an offence to turn a blind eye to drug activity Adopt a zero-tolerance approach Increase staff vigilance and checking of customer toilets Not taking action may lead to an increase in crime and disorder Seek advice and assistance from police Licensed premises may be natural targets for drugs dealers and users Turning a blind eye to drugs activity is seen as allowing it to take place Staff need to be trained to look out for signs of drugs activity and paraphernalia May need police advice and assistance to remove those involved in drugs activity on licensed premises. Under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, it is an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, export or import substances known as ‘legal highs’, although it is not illegal to possess these substances. The definition does not include alcohol or tobacco. KEY POINT Discourage staff from approaching those suspected of drug activity

How much do you know? What are the Chief Medical Officer’s lower-risk guidelines for maximum weekly alcohol consumption by women? At least 14 units a week Up to 21 units a week The correct answer is C. Up to 14 units a week 3 – 4 units per day

How much do you know? Following the refusal to serve a customer with alcohol, what would be the best strategy to reduce the risk of violence? State legal obligation regarding the refusal and explain it’s not personal Call the police to remove the person The correct answer is A. Call the manager to deal with the situation Refuse to give a reason for refusal