Media Contact: Jhodi Redlich, 401-874-4500
Agreements strengthen businesses’ commitment to prevent
underage, excessive alcohol consumption
NARRAGANSETT, R.I. -- October 12, 2005 -- University of Rhode Island and
Narragansett town officials today announced that package store owners and many
of the bar and night clubs in Narragansett have signed cooperative agreements
with URI’s Common Ground initiative to promote responsible alcohol beverage
services. The announcement was made at a ceremony this morning at the
Narragansett Towers at 36 Ocean Road.
Part of the University’s RhodeMap to Safety campaign, the participation of
area vendors is seen as a vital step in preventing sales of alcohol to minors
and excessive consumption by bar and tavern patrons.
“All of the owners participating in the program will be posting a sign in
their storefront showing that their establishment is a member in good
standing,” said Fran Cohen, URI dean of students and director of Common
Ground. “The signs which state Responsible Alcohol Beverage Service Practiced
Here, will remind the public, including URI students, that town and University
officials are united in our resolve to prevent alcohol problems in our
community,” Cohen explained.
“This effort clearly shows that our alcohol retailers genuinely care about the
health and well being of the people who live in and visit our town,” said
Narragansett Police Chief David J. Smith. “With the Rhode Map partnership
certificate, the message to the public is clear: We are concerned about public
safety, and our state’s alcohol laws will be obeyed.”
URI’s Common Ground Cooperating Tavern Program calls on bar and tavern owners
to train and work with their employees to follow responsible beverage service
practices, including identification checks, confiscation of fake IDs, and
refusing sales to patrons who are intoxicated. The Cooperating Package Store
Program focuses on preventing illegal sales to customers under age21 as well as
adult purchases of alcohol for minors.
The program responds to a new state law, enacted this past July and effective
Jan. 1, that requires tavern owners to have new employees attend a certified
responsible beverage service training program within 60 days of being hired. The
Common Ground agreements signed go beyond this requirement by adding that
employees be trained on ID-checking by the Narragansett police department, and
that owners and managers make it clear to their staffs that they support
responsible beverage service.
Participating vendors include: Charlie O's Tavern, Coast Guard House,
Mahoney’s Irish Eyes, George's of Galilee, Okie's Bar & Grille, Pancho
O'Malleys, Pelly's Place, The Wheel House, Leo's Pizza, Spain Restaurant,
Wiley’s, Bonnet Liquors, and O'Neil's Package Store.
Interviews conducted this past summer by Common Ground staff with bar and tavern
owners, managers, and wait staff revealed that underage drinking in their
establishments was a top concern. Other areas of concern included the absence of
safe alternative transportation for patrons and preventing fights and other
disturbances. Those signing the agreement also promised to work toward future
improvements in responsible alcohol retailing.
As part of the RhodeMap to Safety information campaign, URI’s Common Ground
will be placing paid advertisements in the Narragansett Times and the South
County Independent, as well as the URI student newspaper, The Good Five-Cent
Cigar, to congratulate owners who signed the agreement.
Directed by Cohen and Associate Professor of Psychology Mark Wood, Common Ground
is a five-year project funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism (NIAAA) to support URI’s ongoing prevention work with the Town of
Narragansett and on-campus Greek coalitions. Future activities being planned
include a designated driver and other safe ride initiatives.
The University has long been seen as a leading institution in national efforts
to reduce underage alcohol consumption, excessive drinking, and alcohol-impaired
driving among college students. In 2002, President Robert Carothers completed
three years of service on NIAAA’s Committee on Campus Drinking, which
culminated with the publication of a research agenda for the nation. In 2004,
Carothers received a College Leadership Award from the Center for College Health
and Safety to recognize URI’s "no tolerance" policy toward violence
and drug and alcohol abuse.
For more information about the Narragansett-URI
Coalition
Click here for more about the RhodeMap
to Safety campaign.
For background about URI's alcohol-related
research, policies and programs.