[August 2021] Though COVID-19 continues to dominate local and national headlines, there is a strong desire to bring back some sense of ‘normalcy’ to our lives. Outdoor community events provide one such opportunity, and North County is welcoming back many of its traditional events such as the Carlsbad Rotary Wine and Vine at the Flower Fields Aug. 14, and Oceanside Harbor Days, scheduled Sept.18-19, 2021. Beer and wine gardens are often part of community events, and after a year and a half of isolation, ensuring alcohol is sold and served responsibly is more important than ever.
Preventing over-service of alcohol helps reduce problems such as impaired driving, fights, and vandalism; and ensuring minors don’t have access to alcohol is important to prevent underage drinking and the development of alcohol-related problems.
For over 20 years, San Diego’s Responsible Hospitality Coalition (RHC) has been the driving force in advocating, coordinating and providing responsible alcohol sales and service training for event volunteers throughout San Diego County. In 2019, special event trainings were given for over 125 events and nearly 3,000 volunteers were trained, including 23 events and nearly 400 volunteers trained in the Tri-City area. These trainings provide event volunteers the knowledge and skills they need to understand the laws and liabilities that come with selling and serving alcohol. Volunteers learn how to properly check I.D. so that they don’t sell alcohol to minors, how to monitor consumption, and how to tactfully and safely refuse service if someone appears intoxicated.
“Volunteering at community events can be fun,” explains Marian Novak, director of the RHC, “but it’s also really important that volunteers understand the laws and the responsibility they have in keeping communities safe. Since we started these trainings in 1999, we’ve seen many improvements in how alcohol is managed at events.”
The North Coastal Prevention Coalition (NCPC) has partnered with the RHC since 2000 to provide such trainings for events in Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista. “The trainings provided by NCPC help reinforce for our volunteers that we take alcohol sales and service seriously,” stated Gumaro Escarcega, Oceanside Main Street program manager. “Not all of our events include beer and wine gardens, but when they do, we aim to promote safe and responsible use.”
“I recently conducted my first training since the pandemic started,” stated John Byrom, prevention specialist with NCPC and Vista Community Clinic. “People are really excited to get back to hosting events, but it’s also great to see them taking their responsibility seriously. If they’re new to volunteering, sometimes they’re a little surprised to learn they could be cited for a misdemeanor if they sell alcohol to a minor. But reviewing how to check I.D. makes them more comfortable – and now that we’re in 2021, doing the math is easy!”
Upcoming trainings will take place later in August with the Vista Chamber of Commerce, and trainings are scheduled to accommodate the needs of event organizers, often taking place on evenings or weekends.
With a year of isolation and changes in state law regarding training requirements for bars and restaurants now scheduled to take effect in 2022, there has been some confusion among event organizers about training availability for special events. The RHC remains committed to providing training for all event volunteers, whether or not it’s a formal requirement.
The training costs just $25 and takes under an hour – time and money well spent to protect volunteers, visitors and the community-at-large.
For more information or to schedule a training, contact Marian Novak, director of the Responsible Hospitality Coalition at 858-354-2217 or rhcsd@aol.com.
NCPC works in the cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista to reduce the harm of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drugs through community action, education, support and collaboration. To learn how to get involved with NCPC, visit www.northcoastalpreventioncoalition.org or call 760-631-5000 x7174.
About the North Coastal Prevention Coalition
The North Coastal Prevention Coalition aims to reduce the harm of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drugs in the cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista through community action, education, support and collaboration. Funded in part by the County of San Diego, HHSA, Behavioral Health Services, with a contract to Vista Community Clinic. Visit www.northcoastalpreventioncoalition.org
