Is Your Staff in Need of Alcohol Awareness Training? TAM® Offers On-Site Classes for Nevada Businesses

Over 200,000 hospitality and service workers are employed in Clark County, most of whom are required, by state law, to receive alcohol awareness training and carry an Alcohol Education Card. How many of them work for you?

Employers have a duty to ensure that all of their employees are properly trained in responsible alcohol beverage service prior to their start of work. Want to take the hassle out of staying on top of those training requirements? TAM of Nevada offers special onsite alcohol awareness classes for groups and companies, and we’ll make sure your staff is trained the right way. You want to reduce their risk of liability and make sure their staff is trained on how to properly serve and sell alcoholic beverages while providing excellent customer service. Want to know if our training solutions might be right for your company?

  1. Do you have dozens or hundreds of employees who are working day, afternoon and evening shifts? With employees working a variety of different schedules, you can ensure that everyone receives convenient training on-site at your location at convenient times. Beginning in 2011, TAM® began offering on-site alcohol education courses at Walmart® locations throughout the Las Vegas area. Walmart® contacted TAM® about the best way to ensure all of their employees were able to obtain their mandatory TAM® Cards. TAM® of Nevada worked with Walmart® to implement training for employees with different work schedules and who lived in several different areas all around Las Vegas. Now all Walmart® employees benefit from training scheduled on-site at their work location several times throughout the year.
  2. If you have staff outside of Las Vegas, TAM® of Nevada can save students a trip to our Training Center. We offer a variety of options that has your staff taught with one uniform training program to meet all state requirements. Whether you prefer employees receive training at your Clark County business, or private group sessions at our official training center, we can tailor a program to meet your needs. TAM’s capable instructors are available to hold regular classes and proctor exams at your facility, at your convenience. We can also arrange to issue TAM® cards on location depending on the number of students and scheduling requirements. For example, we recently launched alcohol awareness classes for Smith’s® employees in Mesquite, NV, and are preparing to provide required training for over 100 students on-site.
  3. With enforcement efforts on the rise, why risk having trouble with something like alcohol awareness training? Local police agencies in Nevada have been increasing their decoy operations and busting establishments and their employees for selling alcohol to minors. Additionally, if someone is busted serving alcohol to a minor, one of the first things law enforcement may do is check their alcohol awareness card to verify that it is valid. Remember, not all alcohol awareness training is created equal. We can evaluate your staff’s current status to make sure everyone is in compliance and holds a valid alcohol education card. In a recent article from KTNV detailing a February decoy operation in Henderson, seven clerks at various locations were busted for selling to a minor. The article notes that not only were employees issued citations which can result in up to 6 months in jail and a $1000 fine, owners or managers of a business that fails a second or third time can also be issued a citation and could face the revocation of their business license. Check out our recent blog post, “Over Half of Reno Bars Visited in Alcohol Compliance Check Busted for Serving Minors. Are You Checking for I.D.?” for additional details on a recent decoy operation.

TAM® of Nevada has been tailoring training to meet corporate client needs since its inception. Please contact us today to learn more or to arrange training for your facility.

Resources

7 Henderson Businesses Cited for Selling Alcohol to Minors – KTNV

© 2012 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Begin the New Year with Positive Changes – Make it Your Resolution to Become TAM® Certified

TAM-Hospitality-ProfessionalsLas Vegas kicked off the New Year in high style with parties at all of the hottest spots around town. While Metro police noted that the evening’s festivities remained relatively orderly, there were 22 arrests for those suspected of drunk driving, and approximately 57 arrests for minor misdemeanor offenses on the Strip (Fox 5 Vegas). Drunk driving is never OK and rowdy behavior can be problematic for all of your guests and staff. Why not vow to help try and cut that number drastically in 2012? TAM®-Certified professionals know how to help keep things safe when serving alcoholic beverages, which can cut down drastically on these types of behaviors from patrons, and help keep the mood celebratory and fun for all. Why not kick off the New Year by doing all you can to provide excellent service to your patrons while also making sure they are not over-served and able to get home safely?

2012 can be the year to resolve to make changes in your career, education and business. Whatever your resolution, TAM® of Nevada has some ideas to get you motivated.

Sign up for your TAM® Class and get trained the right way. Carry your TAM card to show you received the best possible training. Protect yourself and your employer by getting your mandatory alcohol education through TAM® of Nevada. Contact us today to sign up for one of our online or classroom-based training sessions and kick off the New Year by completing or renewing your alcohol education.

Start an exciting new career or expand your existing career in the service industry. Resolve to begin the search to find your dream job, or make changes in your attitude and delivery at your current job. If you’re looking for a new career, make this the year that you up the ante on your job search. Show employers you are serious about obtaining the best possible training by obtaining a TAM® Card, and then make sure to read out blog post “You’re Hired! Landing a Job in the Hospitality Industry” for tips on making the most of your job search and nailing the interview. Or, if you’re already happy in your current position, why not take it to the next level and work on customer service?  Wow both your patrons and your boss with a fresh new outlook and dedication to providing excellent service. Check out our blog posts “Set the Tone and Increase Your Earnings with Positive Body Language” and “Service Excellence: Best Practices for Hospitality Professionals” for even more tips and ideas on how to impress your guests and net better tips.

Try out new ideas, deals, and special events at your establishment to kick start sales and draw in new patrons. There are many reasons why establishments can see a sales dip – increased competition, shifting tastes and attitudes of patrons, tired selections and décor, etc. Sometimes it’s tough to break old habits and get out of a rut, but hard work and creative thinking can pay off big for your business. Resolve to make 2012 the year you start thinking outside of the box and try new ideas to increase sales, motivate your staff and get customers buzzing about your establishment. If you’re ready to start brainstorming, read “Are Your Happy Hour Deals Falling Flat? New Ideas to Boost Your Bar Sales” and “Beating the January Lull” from Nightclub & Bar for more ideas to help you get started.

Wishing a Happy New Year to all from TAM® of Nevada. What is your New Year’s Resolution?

Resources

© 2012 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Heineken Promotes Responsible Drinking with New Ad Campaign

In an effort to help promote responsible alcohol consumption among consumers, beer giant Heineken is kicking off a new ad campaign telling their customers that, “Sunrise belongs to moderate drinkers.” (Bar Business Magazine). Liquor and beer brands have long promoted responsible beverage service, sales and consumption, but this new move from Heineken really highlights the idea of enjoying an alcoholic beverage, having a great time, and being responsible about your health and safety. Heineken’s campaign will be based around drinkers responsibly consuming alcoholic beverages and ending the night enjoying a sunrise.

The campaign will appear in both online and offline advertising, and will feature heavily in Heineken’s social media channels. You can check out Heineken’s Facebook page to see sunrise photos shared by other fans, and contribute your own. And remember, TAM® of Nevada is also on Facebook, connect with us socially to join the conversation about TAM training and responsible beverage service and sales, plus stay up-to-date on news, events, TAM® tips and more.

Have you seen Heineken’s newest ad campaign? Do you think it will help to promote responsible drinking?

Resources

Heineken Launches “Sunrise” Campaign for Responsible Drinking

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Online or On-Site – Pick the TAM® Class That’s Right for You

TAM ExamWe all know that Nevada service professionals lead busy lives, but fitting in your mandatory alcohol awareness training doesn’t have to be a scheduling nightmare! TAM® of Nevada offers convenient options for students who keep all types of hours, including training offered online, 24/7.

Classroom training isn’t for everyone. If you have a busy schedule, or just prefer to learn in the privacy of your own home, you may want to consider the option of taking your alcohol awareness training in an online environment. Our online training is just as complete and effective as our classroom training, and covers the same material. For students who complete TAM® online training, when you’re ready to take your proctored test and pick up your TAM® Card, we have convenient drop-in exam hours six days a week from 9:30am-5:00pm at our Las Vegas training center! Additionally, we now offer open lab time on Tuesdays for students who would like to complete their alcohol awareness training online, but do not have access to a computer. Students are welcome to visit our training center and use our computer lab to complete their training on Tuesdays between 9:30am and 5:00pm.

For students who prefer traditional classroom-based training, TAM® of Nevada offers class options to fit every schedule. We have instructor-led class offerings six days a week at our training center with multiple class times each day. Additionally, we also offer Spanish class every Tuesday at 6:00pm for Spanish-speaking students. Our knowledgeable instructors have real-world industry experience and will guide you through the training and give you practical advice, tips for success, and maybe even a few entertaining stories too. Check out our alcohol awareness class schedule to find a class that is convenient for you!

If you’ve completed your TAM training online or in the classroom, which option did you choose and what did you like about it?

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada