RUMFORD — Frank Lyons had many messages for those involved on the serving side of the beverage industry. But tops among them was to trust their instincts.

If someone appears to have drunk too much, chances are he or she has. If the person showing an ID doesn’t quite fit with the information on the ID, chances are he or she isn’t the person they claim to be.

Lyons, a 30-year member of various law enforcement agencies and now employed by BC Consultants of South Portland, presented a four-hour class at Brian’s Bistro for 21 employees of River Valley and Bethel area businesses who serve alcohol.

The workshop touched on everything from identifying people who may have drunk too much, to how to determine whether a driver’s license was real or fraudulent.

Paul and Drew Parent were among those at the presentation. They plan to open a new business at the former DiConzo’s Ristorante on Congress Street sometime in the spring.

“This is really informative and will help with the business,” Paul Parent said. His son, Drew, plans to manage Chisholm’s Tavern when it opens.

Darcie Buker, a server at the Sunday River Brewery in Bethel said Lyons’ presentation made it clear that telling someone they can no longer order drinks was not something personal.

“We can tell that person that it’s state law or business policy (that prevents serving more drinks),” she said.

Meagan Foreman, a bartender at Sunday River Brewery, knew all about checking the front of a license or ID for possible fraud, but she said she hadn’t thought of looking at the back of the card.

Lyons described how to detect signs of intoxication and urged participants to regularly appraise customers for sobriety, then to take steps if they want to drive. Those options could include trying to find alternative drivers or calling the police. He also encouraged businesses that serve alcohol to develop policies that require food service and nonalcoholic beverages on site.

A second workshop is planned for 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Black Mountain of Maine next Monday for another group of on-premises alcohol servers, said Sandy Witas, administrative assistant for the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition, the organization that sponsored the workshop at no cost to businesses and employees. Funds came from a state Office of Substance Abuse grant.

Spaces are still available by calling Witas at 364-7408.

Those successfully completing either workshop will become certified for five years, which can lead to lower insurance costs for the businesses, she said,

One of the goals of the local healthy communities coalition is to stop underage drinking. Off-premises studies had been conducted at area stores in the past, and several years ago an on-premises alcohol-serving workshop was offered.

“This is about protecting the community, to keep the community safe and allowing businesses to make a profit,” Witas said.

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