No. 27949 (Amendment): R81-1-24. Responsible Alcohol Service Plan

DAR File No.: 27949
Filed: 06/01/2005, 09:03
Received by: NL

 

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This proposed amendment will give the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Commission the authority to require any licensee who has been found to have violated any provisions of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act relating to the sale, service, or furnishing of alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated person, or to a person under the age of 21 to write and submit to the department a Responsible Alcohol Service Plan. This plan will outline what steps the licensee will take to ensure that these types of violations are not repeated.

 

Summary of the rule or change:

This proposed amendment adds a new Section R81-1-24 which authorizes the ABC Commission to require licensees who have violated provisions of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act relating to the sale, service, or furnishing of alcoholic beverages to persons who are intoxicated or who are under the age of 21 to produce and submit to the department a Responsible Alcohol Service Plan. It outlines what is minimally expected to be covered by the service plan and makes clear that noncompliance may result in a suspension or revocation of the licensee's alcoholic beverage license.

 

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Section 32A-1-107

 

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

None--The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (DABC) has a staff of compliance officers whose job it is to oversee the operations of liquor license holders. It is not anticipated that reviewing the compliance of licensees required to produce and maintain a Responsible Alcohol Service Plan will substantially add to the workload of the compliance staff. Therefore, it is anticipated that the implementation of this proposed rule amendment will have no significant effect on the state budget.

 

local governments:

None--This proposed rule amendment only affects the ABC Commission's administrative adjudication of licensee violations and will not affect local governments.

 

other persons:

Licensees who have violated certain provisions of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act will be required to produce and implement a Responsible Alcohol Service Plan. There will, no doubt, be some costs involved in this effort. The costs will vary depending the size of each licensee's operation and the depth and scope of each individual service plan.

 

Compliance costs for affected persons:

It is anticipated that there will be some costs involved in the creation and implementation of a Responsible Alcohol Service Plan for those licensees who are required to comply. The costs will vary depending on the size of the licensee's operation and the depth of the service plan they create.

 

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

Compliance with the provisions of this proposed rule amendment will almost certainly involve a monetary cost to those licensees who have violated certain provision of the Alcohol Beverage Control Act. But, if the creation and implementation of a Responsible Alcohol Service Plan will deter these licensees from having subsequent violations of selling alcoholic beverages to minors or intoxicated persons, the savings to both the licensee and the community will far outweigh the costs. Kenneth F. Wynn, Director

 

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Alcoholic Beverage Control
Administration
1625 S 900 W
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84104-1630

 

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Sharon Mackay at the above address, by phone at 801-977-6800, by FAX at 801-977-6889, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

 

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/15/2005

 

This rule may become effective on:

07/16/2005

 

Authorized by:

Kenneth F. Wynn, Director

 

 

RULE TEXT

R81. Alcoholic Beverage Control, Administration.

R81-1. Scope, Definitions, and General Provisions.

R81-1-24. Responsible Alcohol Service Plan.

(1) Authority. This rule is pursuant to the commission's powers and duties under 32A-1-107 to act as a general policymaking body on the subject of alcoholic beverage control; set policy by written rules that establish criteria and procedures for suspending or revoking licenses; and prescribe the conduct and management of any premises upon which alcoholic beverages may be sold, consumed, served, or stored.

(2) Purpose. This rule allows the commission to require a business licensed by the commission to sell, serve or store alcoholic beverages for consumption on the licensed premises that has been found by the commission to have violated any provision of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act relating to the sale, service, or furnishing of alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated person, or to a person under the age of 21, to have a written Responsible Alcohol Service Plan.

(3) Definitions.

(a) "Commission" means the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.

(b) "Department" means the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

(c) "Intoxication" and "intoxicated" means a person who is actually, apparently, or obviously under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, a controlled substance, a substance having the property of releasing toxic vapors, or a combination of alcoholic beverages or said substances, to a degree that the person may endanger himself or another.

(d) "Licensed Business" is a person or business entity licensed by the commission to sell, serve, and store alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises of the business.

(e) "Manager" means a person chosen or appointed to manage, direct, or administer the operations at a licensed business. A manager may also be a supervisor.

(f) "Responsible Alcohol Service Plan" or "Plan" means a written set of policies and procedures of a licensed business that outline measures that will be taken by the business to prevent employees of the licensed business from:

(i) over-serving alcoholic beverages to customers;

(ii) serving alcoholic beverages to customers who are actually, apparently, or obviously intoxicated; and

(iii) serving alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of 21.

(h) "Server" means an employee who actually makes available, serves to, or provides an alcoholic beverage to a customer for consumption on the business premises.

(i) "Supervisor" means an employee who, under the direction of a manager or owner, directs or has the responsibility to direct, transfer, or assign duties to employees who actually provide alcoholic beverages to customers on the premises of the business.

(4) Application of Rule.

(a)(i) The commission may direct that a licensed business that has been found by the commission to have violated any provision of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act relating to the sale, service, or furnishing of alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated person, or to a person under the age of 21, submit to the department a Responsible Alcohol Service Plan.

(ii) The licensee thereafter shall maintain a Plan as a condition of continued licensing and relicensing by the commission.

(b) Any Plan at a minimum shall:

(i) outline the policies and procedures of the licensed business to:

(A) prevent over-service of alcohol;

(B) prevent service of alcohol to persons who are intoxicated;

(C) prevent service of alcohol to persons under the age of 21;

(D) provide alternate transportation options for problem customers; and

(E) deal with hostile customers;

(ii) require that all managers, supervisors, servers, security personnel, and others who are involved in the sale, service or furnishing of alcohol, agree to follow the policies and procedures of the Plan;

(iii) require adherence to the Plan as a condition of employment;

(iv) require a commitment by management to monitor employee compliance with the Plan;

(v) require periodic training sessions on the house policies and procedures in the Plan, and on the techniques of responsible service of alcohol taught in the Alcohol Training and Education Seminar required by 62A-15-401, such as:

(A) identifying legal forms of ID, checking ID, and recognizing fake ID;

(B) identifying persons under the age of 21;

(C) discussing the legal definition of intoxication;

(D) identifying behavioral signs of intoxication;

(E) discussing techniques for monitoring and controlling consumption such as:

(1) drink counting;

(2) slowing down alcohol service;

(3) offering food or nonalcoholic beverages; and

(4) cutting off alcohol service;

(F) discussing third party or "dram shop" liability for the unlawful service of alcohol to intoxicated persons and persons under the age of 21 as outlined in 32A-14a-101 through -105; and

(G) discussing the potential criminal, civil and administrative penalties for over-serving alcohol, selling, serving, or otherwise furnishing alcohol to persons who are intoxicated, or to persons who are under the age of 21.

(c) The licensed business may choose to include in the Plan incentives for those employees who deserve special recognition for their responsible service of alcohol.

(d) The Plan shall be available on the premises of the licensed business so as to be accessible to all employees of the licensed business who are involved in the sale, service or furnishing of alcohol.

(e) The Plan shall be available on the premises of the licensed business for inspection by representatives of the commission, department and by law enforcement officers.

(f) Any licensed business that fails to submit to the department a Plan as directed by the commission pursuant to Subsection (4)(a), or to have a Plan available for inspection as required by Subsection (4)(e), shall be subject to the immediate suspension or revocation of its current license, and shall not be granted a renewal of its license by the commission.

(g) The department, at the request of a licensed business, may provide assistance in the preparation of a Plan.

 

KEY: alcoholic beverages

[June 1, 2004]2005

Notice of Continuation December 26, 2001

32A-1-107

32A-1-119(5)(c)

32A-3-103(1)(a)

32A-4-103(1)(a)

32A-4-203(1)(a)

32A-5-103(3)(c)

32A-6-103(2)(a)

32A-7-103(2)(a)

32A-8-103(1)(a)

32A-9-103(1)(a)

32A-10-203(1)(a)

32A-11-103(1)(a)