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Category: Alcohol Awareness
Brand Loyalty Among Underage Drinkers
While the rate of alcohol abuse among teens has fallen in recent years, it still represents a huge, and dangerous, problem. In fact, underage drinking accounted for over 189,000 emergency room visits in 2010 (SAMHSA). Researchers, advocates and policy experts are hard at work to find ways to reduce teen drinking. In the meantime, a new finding about the choices made by teen drinkers has emerged out of a study from Boston University and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Not only are teenagers getting their hands on alcoholic beverages for the purpose of binge drinking, they have brand-driven alcohol preferences. Some results from the study include:
- Binge drinking among young people is highly prevalent. 67% of drinks consumed by teens aged 13 to 20 done so as part of binge drinking episodes.
- 14% of those survey reported having drunk Bud Light at least once, followed by 7% have drunk Jack Daniel’s bourdon. Other popular choices were Smirnoff malt beverages, Budweiser, and Coors Light.
- There is no strong trend toward one particular type of alcoholic beverage. The 25 most cited brands are diverse, and include beers, vodkas, whiskeys, rums, malt beverages, and cognacs.
For more information on study results, refer to the Washington Post article, “What underage drinkers drink when they binge drink.”
How can hospitality professionals help to prevent underage drinking? It only takes a minute to check an ID and prevent a minor from entering a bar and buying a drink. Gas stations, grocery stores and liquor stores are also places that teens turn to in order to purchase liquor, especially canned or bottled beer packs and malt liquors. Staffers at those establishments should take steps to ensure they are doing all they can to prevent illegal sales.
The RR Forum makes excellent and common-sense suggestions for helping to curb teenage drinking from off-site sales. For their tips, you may refer to the article on the FTC website at “Alcohol Retailers Can Help Reduce Teen Drinking.” Everyone involved in sales should be TAM®-certified, aware of store policies regarding acceptable forms of ID, and also when and how to refuse a sale.
How else do you think service workers can help curb teen drinking?
Resources
- Highlights of the 2010 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) Findings on Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits – SAMHSA
- What Underage Drinkers Drink When They Binge Drink – The Washington Post
- Alcohol Retailers Can Help Reduce Teen Drinking – Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information
© 2014 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada
What’s On Your Entertainment List? Best Book and Movie Gifts for Bartenders
We all know that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction… case in point: bartending robots that interpret body language! Drones delivering drinks at Vegas hotspots! But, whether you’re planning a vacation getaway or just some downtime at home in the coming months, the relaxed summer months are a great time to curl up with a good book or movie – fiction or non-fiction.
Instead of browsing the usual bestsellers list, why not pick up one of the many great books or movies targeted to bartenders and other hospitality professionals? Whether you’re looking for a good book to explain the basics, insight into the industry from bar gurus, or just a light and fun fiction story with a bar as the backdrop, there’s something out there for everyone! Here are some suggestions from TAM® of Nevada to help get you started:
Hey Bartender – A movie directed by Doug Tirola and featuring a number of the world’s renowned bartenders and cocktail drinkers. Hey Bartender is a love story to the cocktail and the people who make them. The film gives insider access to the most exclusive bars in New York chronicling the story of the comeback of the cocktail and the rebirth of the bartender. Also features commentary from some of New York City’s best cocktail hosts including Graydon Carter, Danny Meyer and Amy Sacco.
The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart – Not just a recipe collection, this book educates about the herbs, flowers, trees, fruits, and fungi that make up many alcoholic beverages: beer, wine, gin, sake, and more. Additionally, look for tips and tricks of the trade, gardening tips, and even how to brine your own olives. Love the visual component of a bartending book? Don’t worry, you’ll still get cocktail photographs and infusion recipes.
The Joy of Mixology: The Consummate Guide to the Bartender’s Craft by Gary Regan – A must-read guide to bartending and mixology by a fantastic author. Gary Regan’s book is a classic for any bar professional and will give insight and tips on not only how to memorize drink recipes, but begin creating your own. With insight into cocktail history, advice on bar etiquette and insights into his own experiences in the industry, this is a fun and entertaining read. If you’re impressed with this book, you should also pick up Regan’s newest follow-up book, Gaz Regan’s 101 Best New Cocktails Volume III.
Looking for even more suggestions on good reads for bar professionals? Check out Eater’s suggestions in the article, “The Best Cocktail Books: Bartenders Pick Their Favorites.”
Now it’s your turn. What are you reading or watching this summer?
Sources
April is Alcohol Awareness Month: Show Your Support for Safe Beverage Service by Obtaining Your TAM Card
April is Alcohol Awareness Month. This is an opportunity to raise awareness about alcohol abuse and encourage people to make healthy, safe life choices. This month is also a time to highlight the role that servers and sellers have in protecting their communities. Good judgment and knowledge of the Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM)® are crucial qualities in a service professional. Alcohol Awareness Month is an opportunity for server to showcase their training!
This month we encourage you to visit our website or our office to renew or obtain your TAM® Card. In addition to our regularly scheduled TAM® Classes available in Las Vegas six days a week, the TAM® course is also available online 24/7. Additional special offerings and scheduling events in April include:
- TAM® Class and exam proctoring for online students will be available in Mesquite at the Virgin River Hotel Casino on Wednesday, April 16th at 8:00am. Proctoring for online students will be available at 11:15am. This event is repeated the third Wednesday of every month.
- TAM® Spanish Class will be offered in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 17th at 9:00am. Walk-ins are welcome; please arrive by 8:30am to register for the class. This event is repeated the third Thursday of every month.
- Exam proctoring for online students will be available in Laughlin at the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce building in the Manpower office on Thursday, April 17th between the hours of 8:30am-12:00pm. This event is repeated every Thursday.
- The TAM® Office in Las Vegas will be open for regular business hours 8:30am-5:00pm on Friday, April 18th (Good Friday). The office will be closed on Saturday, April 19th for the Easter weekend, and will reopen for regular business hours on Monday, April 21st at 8:30am. The online TAM® course will still be available to access over the holiday weekend.
We look forward to seeing you in April!
TAM Card® Nation in Vegas! 