Over the past six months, we have been delivering Licensing Awareness courses around the North East of England. It’s been an interesting time delivering the training because in the past this wasn’t a course we get asked to do much. Duell Training Associates
Typically, we deliver the Personal Licence Holders training regularly and once you achieve the qualification this is one of the things you need to buy the Licence from your local council. Duell Training Associates
So why the uptake on businesses asking for Licensing Awareness training?
This is what the owners are telling me –
- We are located in an area with social issues resulting in a high risk of under-age sale of alcohol or proxy sales. Duell Training Associates
- We were recently visited by the council who recommended staff training. Duell Training Associates
- Our establishment is a nightclub and we are naturally high risk of under-age sales. Duell Training Associates
- We had a complaint from a resident who believes we are selling alcohol to children. Duell Training Associates
Admittedly, the above list is what must be going on in any case and I don’t think it explains the increase in training we have completed. However, it was on the first four or five courses we got asked about that does explain it. Duell Training Associates
These business owners are scared that one day they will be put under the spotlight on why their staff expelled a drunk, drugged up (or both) customer who is now outside, possibly on their own in a city they are not local to (we all love a weekend city break) and vulnerable. When in fact they put an already vulnerable person into greater danger. Duell Training Associates
The Licensing Act
Now for anyone who knows a bit about the Licensing Act 2003, it is up to the venue to ask any customers to leave if they are causing any disorder. Yet strangely it is also against the law for any venue to serve a drunken customer. Yep, even to me, that sounds weird!! Duell Training Associates
Let’s get back to those scared business owners. When consulting with these worried Managers and Business Owners I hope I achieve my goal which is to first of all make them feel a little better. I say “a little” because this problem isn’t exactly going to go away – ejecting drunken customers but I like to open with “Hey you’re in good hands because I am also a First Aid Instructor.” Duell Training Associates
So what’s First Aid got to do with Licensing training?
Staff working on a licensed venue will be trained to spot the signs of customers getting too drunk or looking suspicious of any drug activity and then the venue must act. But how many staff will look at a customer to who they have served a few drinks and think any of the following . . . . Duell Training Associates
- They have fallen and appear concussed. Duell Training Associates
- My best friend has Diabetes and does that. Duell Training Associates
- I wonder if they have Epilepsy? Duell Training Associates
Using a First Aid-First Approach
During the Licensing Awareness sessions, we embed first aid topics which can be likened to drunkenness. Staff are trained to approach customers using a moral approach to consider a customer’s well-being. Just as we would on a First Aid course you should be asking the customer questions and checking in with them or their friends/family who are enjoying a night out with them. Not the easiest thing to do I know but Health and Safety is about being active and using a First Aid First approach supports this. Duell Training Associates
- Forgot to take their medication. Or have they been spiked through no fault of their own? Duell Training Associates
Imagine that you didn’t do any of that and instead called over the Door Supervisor to have them escorted out. I’ll leave the rest to you to reflect on. Now you see why those business owners are scared. Scared that they will get a letter from a solicitor representing a family of that customer you throw out on the street whilst trying to deal with their medical condition. Duell Training Associates