Brick Introduces Training Requirement for Businesses That Sell Alcohol

A beer glass on top of a bar. (Photo: Ruocaled/Flickr)

Brick officials on Tuesday introduced an ordinance that would require training for employees of businesses that sell alcoholic beverages in the township.

The ordinance, which was approved unanimously on first reading, requires all “front of the house” employees, such as managers, servers, hosts, bartenders and bussers, to earn and hold a certification in alcohol management. The requirement will also apply to those who work in businesses with a distribution license – generally, liquor stores – as well as so-called “club licenses” that are issued to social organizations such as the Elks or a yacht club.

The township noted two certifications that will be accepted: TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) and TAMS (Techniques of Alcohol Management), both of which are offered locally by the township and nonprofit organizations.

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“The training is available free for establishments, and is beneficial because it reduces insurance costs as well,” said Councilwoman Andrea Zapcic, who introduced the measure to the council. “There are three township employees certified to do the training and several organizations in the county.”

Zapcic said she previously has worked with an organization known as the DART Coalition to facilitate the training, which teaches restaurant and store employees to spot phony IDs, identify cases of excessive drinking and deal with difficult customers.

“It’s about a three to four hour training,” said Zapcic. “It’s done live at the restaurant’s discretion – they can schedule one as a group. When I worked with the DART Coalition, we used to regularly go to River Rock and do their training right on site.”

The ordinance requiring the training to take place within 90 days of an employee being hired at a licensed establishment. Each business owner will be required to keep on file a copy of each employee’s certification number and its expiration date.

The ordinance will be subject to a public hearing and second vote before it is formally adopted. That is scheduled to take place at the May 24, 2022 meeting of the township council.