The holidays are not just a time for merry making and celebration, they’re also a time of increased risk for underage drinking and impaired driving. More alcohol is purchased this time of year due to increased family gatherings and holiday parties, and teens are 43 percent more likely to try alcohol for the first time in the month of December.

Healthy Lincoln County and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office are working together to provide local restaurants, bars, and stores with Responsible Beverage Server training on Wednesday, Dec. 19 in Wiscasset. Advanced registration through Healthy Lincoln County is required by calling 563-1330. The training costs $15 per person and is valid for three years. Participants must present a state-issued photo ID at the time of training.

While it’s not always possible to prevent underage drinking from happening, restaurant and convenience store owners in the community can take an active role in prevention by ensuring that their staff has completed Responsible Beverage Server training. Currently, there are 152 active liquor license holders in Lincoln County, and in the last two years, only 28 percent of them have sent staff to this training.

The trainings are taught by Chief Deputy Rand Maker and Sgt. Mark Bridgham, and are part of a larger initiative to reduce drunk driving, binge drinking, and youth’s access to alcohol. The training covers safe serving practices, identifying false ID’s, assessing for intoxication, preventing sales to minors, and more.

“The Sheriff’s Office looks at these trainings as part of our strategy to reduce access to alcohol by minors.  Working with our community partners like Healthy Lincoln County has proven to be one of the most effective ways to support this strategy” says Chief Deputy Maker.

Healthy Lincoln County is available as a resource to business owners and community members interested in learning more about the risks of alcohol consumption and detecting alcohol impairment in the workplace. Additional Seller-Server Trainings can be held upon request. Please contact Jess Breithaupt for more information: jbreithaupt@healthylincolncounty.org or call (207) 563-1330.