LAKE COUNTY ? The Lakeport Police Department (LPD) is looking for businesses to sign up for a free training session to help liquor licensees comply with state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) laws and avoid alcohol sales to minors. The LPD is holding its first grant-funded training on Sept. 18 at 9:30 a.m. at Lakeport City Hall.
The training is part of the department”s two-pronged effort to curb alcohol-related crime, courtesy of an $18,508 grant from ABC. Lt. Brad Rasmussen of the LPD said in addition to paying for the training sessions for businesses, the grant money covers overtime for officers to conduct enforcements, which include undercover operations and inspections to determine whether or not a business is complying with liquor-licensing requirements.
“We have already done inspections and given feedback to licensees regarding things they might need to change or improve. We did about seven so far,” Rasmussen said.
The ABC Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs training is voluntary, and businesses throughout the county may sign up. Rasmussen said owners, managers and employees are welcome on a first-come-first-served basis. He said 50 openings are available.
“We want businesses to sign up because the goal of this whole program is to educate licensees so they don”t receive violations. We want to provide training so that they will be aware of what to look for with false IDs, minors trying to purchase alcohol, things like that,” Rasmussen said.
The law requires ABC to revoke a business” liquor license after three violations in three years that involve sales to minors or allowing a minor to consume alcohol. An Aug. 13 LPD press release said the department would conduct at least one enforcement operation “targeting the sale or delivery of alcoholic beverages to minors” before Aug. 31.
Rasmussen said the benefits of the training include knowing how to handle difficult situations, the possibility of lower insurance premiums and the reduced risk of criminal liability, lawsuit and ABC actions against a license.
The department will hold three more training classes before June 30, 2009, according to Lakeport police officer Destry Henderson, who wrote the grant. ABC representatives will teach the classes, and future dates will be announced.
For more information or to sign up, call Destry Henderson at 263-5191, or e-mail to dhenderson@lakeportpolice.org.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com or contact her direct at 263-5636 ext. 37.
