In The NewsAround New England
Originally printed in The Newport Daily News
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
CommentaryRequiring Liquor Sellers To Undergo Training Is Appropriate
Given the well documented problems with underage drinking Aquidneck Island faces, requiring package-store employees to undergo training to spot fake IDs and deal with other alcohol-related problems seems like a no-brainer.
After all, those who serve alcohol at restaurants and bars are required under state law to get such training. It only makes sense that employees who sell alcohol at retail outlets do the same.
Middletown is poised to become a model community in the state in this regard - if it can find the political will. The Town Council is expected to vote on the proposal during its meeting Monday night.
Unfortunately, during the first public hearing on the proposed ordinance, which would require all Class A license holders, managers and employees to be certfied in a state-approved alcohol server/seller training program - as already is required for other classes of license - council members seemed to go into denial mode.
Despite statistics to the contrary - showing that Middletown has the fourth highest rate of underage drinking in the state of Rhode Island, which overall has one of the highest rates of substance abuse in the country - council members basically said the town didn't have a problem and, therefore, didn't need the ordinance.
Despite the fact that of the 50 or so establishments in town that hold liquor licenses, only four of them - Class A, or package stores - are not currently required to have such training, council members called it an unnecessary burden on business. Others might call it an unfair exemption.
Criticism of the ordinance as an "unfunded mandate" also rang hollow, since the task force has grant money to provide the training free of charge. Even when the grant expires, the training typically costs $40 to $50 per person for two-year certification - a small price for more responsible alcohol sales, and one that other establishments already are required to pay. (In Newport, a number of package store owners and employees have voluntarily gone through the training and said learning new techniques and keeping up with technology has helped them do their jobs better.) Finally, despite the fact the police chief and the owner of one of the four package stores in town joined the task force in strongly supporting the ordinance, the majority of the council instead appeared to side with the town's former administrator, Gerald S. Kempen, who now owns a liquor store in Middletown. Kempen testified against the ordinance, using the arguments above, which council members seemed to parrot. (We should note that Kempen is suing the town over his departure from the administrator's post in December 2007, and the town has countersued, claiming he violated the $92,000 separation agreement, making the whole situation even more curious.) Kempen used a box of fake IDs that had been confiscated at his store as evidence that employees there already were doing a good job. However, there are two flaws with that argument: First, IDs are supposed to be turned over to law enforcement for verification; and second, a box full of fake IDs actually proves that there is a problem with underage drinking - or at least attempts by minors to purchase alcohol.
Of course, the long term solution is for the General Assembly to amend state law to include Class A establishments.
In the short term, we hope the Middletown Town Council is ready to put foolish politics aside and approve an ordinance that clearly is in the best interest of the community.