10-21-05 - About 20 Narragansett liquor stores, bars and restaurants signed
an agreement with the University of Rhode Island's Common Ground campaign to
promote responsible alcohol services and sales.
"The businesses have been very responsive," Frances Cohen, dean of
students and director of Common Ground, said.
The Cooperating Tavern Agreement requires participants to post a sign indicating
that their establishment is a "member in good standing of the RhodeMap to
Safety's Cooperating Tavern Program." It also requires employees to attend
training by the Narragansett Police Department on ID checking.
"The liquor store owners and the bar owners in this community right now are
very responsible," Cohen said. "But signing this agreement is a very
public act ... so that students who are new to the community or visiting from
other colleges can see that these establishments support the law and responsible
beverage service."
Local liquor store and restaurant owners said the agreement would change little
about their established alcohol services.
"We signed on very early in the program for the simple reason that we were
already practicing responsible beverage services," Deborah Kelso, co-owner
of the Coast Guard House, said. "[The agreement] did not change any
practices we already had in place. This is just a formal piece of paper. There
was no reason not to sign."
Liquor store owners agreed.
"We enforce the laws," Jerry Sahagian, owner of Bonnet Liquors said.
"We check IDs constantly. This is our livelihood. We don't fool around with
it. We do what we have to do to protect our business."
Sahagian added that the sign would show the Narragansett community that the
store is in good standing. "It's good to be in tune with the rest of the
community. It's good for everyone to be on the same page," he said.
"The reason I signed it was to get recognition from the town," Toni
O'Neil, co-owner of O'Neil's Package Store, said. "We're doing the same job
that we've been doing."
She added, "We have a sign [in the window] with the agreement. Whether
or not it's going to dissuade someone with a fake ID from coming in, I doubt it.
They're going to try that no matter what."
Mark Wood, psychology professor and principal investigator for Common Ground,
said it is important for alcohol retailers to do things that reduce
alcohol-related traffic crashes and fatalities.
"We know that that most Narragansett establishments are already doing these
things, but believe that we can help them implement these practices more
effectively," he said. "Also, it sends an important message that these
businesses care about community safety and being good citizens."
"I think it's good for the community to get a unified message that the same
rules apply on-campus as well as off-campus," Cohen added.
Common Ground is a community-based project funded by a 5-year, $3.5 million
grant provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The
campaign is part of URI's efforts to prevent substance abuse and related harm in
the community.