Posted tagged ‘underage drinking’

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Florida House Bill 33- Signed

May 13, 2010

HB 33 was signed by the Governor Christ ,May 12, 2010. The bill and the staff analysis are attached.

 CS/HB 33 – Selling, Giving, or Serving Alcoholic Beverages to Persons Under 21 Years of Age

GENERAL BILL   by Public Safety & Domestic Security Policy Committee and Randolph (CO-SPONSORS) Fetterman; Heller; Plakon; Rouson

Selling, Giving, or Serving Alcoholic Beverages to Persons Under 21 Years of Age: Increases penalty imposed for second or subsequent offense of selling, giving, or serving alcoholic beverages to person under 21 years of age within specified period following prior offense; provides defense.

Effective Date: July 1, 2010 

 http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/SEctions/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=42154&SessionIndex=-1&SessionId=64&BillText=&BillNumber=33&BillSponsorIndex=0&BillListIndex=0&BillStatuteText=&BillTypeIndex=0&BillReferredIndex=0&HouseChamber=H&BillSearchIndex=0

Please contact our office at: 800-537-9863 with any questions you may have regarding this bill.

Categories: Government Relations
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Connect with RCS using Social Media!

April 19, 2010

Connect with RCS using Social Media! Sign up for our free webinar on April 23 or April 27 to learn how your business can also benefit from social media:

April 23: http://tinyurl.com/y34xx4j

April 27: http://tinyurl.com/y4nekv2

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Public Opinion: 18 or 21

April 8, 2010

*The views expressed by the organizations listed below do not necessarily reflect the views of Regulatory Compliance Services and Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association.

Recently, there has been considerable debate as to whether the legal drinking age should be lowered to 18.  John Mc Cardell, former President of Middlebury College, has championed this cause via his website, http://www.chooseresponsibility.org, and through appearances on television and speaking engagements.  Those in favor, argue that the current law has forced minors, particularly, students, to resort to illegally obtaining alcohol for consumption.  This trend has escalated into the dangerous practice of “binge drinking,” commonly taking place in residential areas, sorority and fraternity houses, and other unlicensed locations.  Moreover, the website highlights testimonials for proponents of lowering the legal drinking age.

Those opposed to this movement are groups such as, MADD (www.madd.org).  MADD advocates their movement by citing declines in alcohol related accidents, increased negative public perception of alcohol abuse and damaging effects of alcohol on the maturing brain, as reasons to believe that the legal drinking age remain 21.  As a result of the “status quo” position, they have initiated a heightened awareness in choosing a designated driver and honed in on group initiatives in public schools to educate students on the effects of alcohol.

 This largely debated issue has created many opinions, so we want to know, what do you think?

Categories: Chip Bone
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10 Strange Alcohol Laws

March 24, 2010

Our friends at The College Times published the following article on March 13, 2010. We thought you would enjoy it:

10. In Ohio, it’s illegal to get a fish drunk. Now I’m not sure who came up with this law or why it was important. Were people feeding too much booze to the fishes? Did a fish die of alcohol poisoning and other fish alert the authorities? How did this fish madness even begin?

9. About two in every three counties in Alabama are dry counties: they prohibit the production, distribution and sale of any alcoholic beverages. However, they permit the sale of firearms with virtually no restrictions or regulations. There’s no state permit required to purchase or carry rifles and shotguns, but it’s illegal to purchase alcohol.

8. In Indiana, liquor stores can’t sell milk or cold soft drinks. Perhaps milk and beer is a bad mix or something.

7. Looking for a place to be obnoxiously drunk while roaming the streets? Head to Minnesota, where public intoxication is not a crime. College students at the University of Minnesota probably have a lot of fun with this one.

6. While standing up in Texas, it’s against the law to take more than three sips of beer. Texans must be expert chuggers.

5. If you’re under 21 and in Missouri, refuse to take out the trash when your parents or friends ask. If the trash contains one empty alcohol beverage container, you could be charged with illegal possession of alcohol. At least it’s a good excuse to have someone else take out the garbage.

4. While drinking in Iowa, have your cash ready. It’s illegal to start a tab at a bar.

3. Thinking of sending friends in Kentucky a bottle of beer, wine or spirits as a gift? Think again. It’s illegal to ship alcohol to Kentucky. Try shipping it to one of Kentucky’s border states.

2. In Nebraska, bars can’t sell beer unless they are simultaneously brewing a kettle of soup. Budweiser and tomato soup anyone?

1. If you enjoy munching on some pretzels while drinking a beer, avoid the bars in North Dakota. Their state law prohibits serving beer and pretzels at the same time in any bar or restaurant. Where’s the logic in that?

http://media.www.ecollegetimes.com/media/storage/paper991/news/2010/03/18/Top10s/Top-10.Strange.Alcohol.Laws-3891082.shtml

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Are You and Your Staff Inspection-Ready?

March 23, 2010

It’s every restaurant manager’s nightmare. It’s 4:30 in the afternoon, you’re right in the middle of dinner prep and the health inspector walks in.  You are already stressed to make sure the restaurant is ready for service and now you have to do a walk through with the inspector.  The restaurant is in chaos, and after the inspection, you fear that you are bound for fines and violations. Over the last two years health inspection fines have greatly increased. And now, more than ever, restaurant managers and employees need to know their food safety basics.

FRLA/RCS wants to protect your business from these violations.  Below is a list of key employee related inspection issues to help you avoid major fines during a health inspection:

  • All employees need to be certified; managers need certification within 30 days of employment, food handler employees within 60 days of employment.
  • All employees should have knowledge of time and temperature control.
  • All employees should have knowledge of hand washing procedures.
  • All employees should have knowledge of proper food handling methods.
  • Management must have training records available upon request

During an inspection, all employees are held accountable for the operation of the restaurant.   Management should take the time insure proper employee education.  Strong management practices, combined with committed, educated employees are key ingredients toward the success of your operation.

FRLA/RCS is dedicated to delivering the best food safety resources and training materials for your business.  As the state’s contracted provider for food safety training, our staff is qualified to properly educate your managers and employees.  This is accomplished by offering public food manager certification exams in 35 cities a month, on-site food handler and food manager classes and a variety of studying materials.

For more information regarding public food manager certification exams, on-site classes or food safety basics visit www.regcomplianceusa.com or call 800-537-9863.

Categories: Chip Bone, News, Tips and Tools
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Sting Operations – Update

March 17, 2010

Sting Operations have increased in South Florida and the Keys this month. We have learned that the City of Key West has received grant funds for the purpose of conducting compliance checks involving sale of alcohol to minors.  We understand that this is currently being conducted by Key West City Police.  Here are the details:

KEY WEST: Two convenience stores were hit when an underage patron purchased a case of beer. The clerk did not ask for identification.

MARATHON: An underage decoy ordered a beer. Meanwhile, an undercover officer was standing behind the underage decoy pretending to read a take-out menu. The underage decoy presented their own identification indicating age of 17 years old and as a result, the sale was not made

PALM BEACH GARDENS: An 18 year old female took an empty Bud Light bottle to the bartender and a 19 year old female took an empty wine glass to same bartender, both asked for a refill. The bartender served both and two counts were filed for selling alcohol to a minor.

Categories: Chip Bone, Government Relations, News, RCS Authors, Sting Operations
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