California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) recently won approval of her legislation to better prevent drunk driving by requiring restaurant and bar servers be trained on identifying when a customer has had too much alcohol to drink. Assembly Bill 1221 was approved by the Assembly Government Organization Committee with a bipartisan, unanimous vote of 19-0.
“Servers should be trained to know when a patron has had too much to drink. Developing a simple, standardized training program for staff at bars and restaurants will cut down on drunk driving and save lives.” Assemblywoman Gonzalez Fletcher said. “This approach protects the server, patron, business and the public.”
Each year, more than 10,000 people are killed as a result of drunk driving. AB 1221 directs the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to develop, implement and administer a responsible beverage service training program by January 1, 2021 for all servers in bars and restaurants. Nationally, 18 states and the District of Columbia have passed a responsible beverage service training law.
