RUMFORD — The River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition will offer free training next month in Rumford and Bethel for on-premise responsible beverage sales by liquor licensees.

The Seller Server Training for On-premise Licensees is designed to better equip management, store clerks and licensees on identifying and preventing violations of specific liquor laws with an emphasis on underage and high-risk drinkers, Sandra Witas, RVHCC program coordinator, said Tuesday in an email.

“Along with learning about these laws, training helps attendees understand how to properly identify minors and visibly intoxicated persons and the importance of having good policy to refer to when dealing with these situations,” she said.

“The training often leads to reduced insurance rates. More importantly, however, it will help reduce the risk of making costly and/or tragic unlawful sales.”

Key points in the training include:

* Identifying minors and intoxicated patrons.

* Intervention to prevent a patron from drinking and driving under the influence.

* How alcohol is ingested and metabolized by the body.

* What alcoholism is and how alcohol affects the body.

* False ID detection and carding policy.

* The importance of good written policies.

* The Liquor Liability Act.

Witas said it is a state-approved, 4½ hour program.

“The funding that RVHCC receives allows us to offer the trainings on a yearly basis,” she said.

“The trainings help the community in not allowing restaurants, bars and stores be an access point for underage sales. It also provides these businesses with the tools they need to operate effectively when it comes to selling to minors and/or customers that may have already had too much to drink.

“Underage consumption is a problem everywhere and not indicative of the problems the communities they are held in may or may not have,” Witas said.

The trainer will be Frank Lyons of BC Consultants of South Portland.

There are two training sessions scheduled for businesses. The first will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and last until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at the Bethel Inn, at 21 Broad St. in Bethel. Coffee and water will be provided.

The second will be from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Black Mountain ski area, 39 Glover Road in Rumford. The time for this training is for those moonlighting in the service industry, Witas said. A healthy dinner will be provided.

Certificates, good for five years, will be provided to all who complete a post-test.

To register, contact Sandra Witas at River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition at 364-7408 or via email at [email protected].

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