IOWA CITY SERVERS EARN THEIR TIPS

Iowa City, Iowa (August 4, 2003) – Today the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division will kickoff a server training program utilizing Training for Intervention ProcedureS (TIPS), a training curriculum designed to assist employees at bars and restaurants in preventing alcohol sales to minors or intoxicated patrons. Funding for the pilot program was granted by Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau, allowing the Division to offer TIPS free of charge to all on-premise liquor licensees in Johnson county.

"As students return to Iowa City to begin a new school year, filled with high hopes and facing new opportunities, it is my hope that both bar owners and students can take advantage of the fresh start," stated Lynn Walding, Administrator of the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. "The partnership between bar owners, servers and local law enforcement illustrated in the server training initiative, shows that the entire community is involved in addressing youth access to alcohol. Such a comprehensive approach is the most effective way not only to gain compliance but more importantly, to ensure students' safety."

Establishments participating in the TIPS training will be granted a one-time affirmative defense, valid for a two-year period, whereby a business may avoid civil prosecution if a sales-to-minors violation occurs in their establishment. In order for the business to take advantage of the affirmative defense, the employee guilty of the violation must have been TIPS certified at the time the violation occurred. Though a business may avoid a civil penalty by asserting the affirmative defense, the guilty employee will still be subject to a criminal fine.

To date, 41 businesses have taken advantage of the free training and have registered employees. The Division expects to train over 500 bartenders and servers over the next two weeks at the TIPS sessions held at the Iowa City Sheraton Hotel and the Iowa City Council Chamber. Training will be conducted by TIPS certified trainers from the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, the Iowa City Police Department and the Iowa City Sheraton Hotel.

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