Best Practices Awards 2017
“ We plan on bringing together alcohol license administrators , alcohol enforcement and local and state legislators to network and discuss legislative priorities , trends and best practices .”
— EMILY DETITTA , MONTGOMERY COUNTY DLC
“ Participants were educated on who we are , what we do and why we do it ,” DeTitta says . “ It was a very positive shift . I believe the event also revealed that we have many common goals , such as the health and welfare of our residents and a safe and vibrant nightlife . Backing for county programs is made possible by the funding the Department of Liquor Control deposits into the general fund each year .”
The Montgomery County DLC is gearing up to run another outreach program in October 2017 .
“ We ’ ve learned the benefit of being inclusive ,” DeTitta says . “ We plan on bringing together alcohol license administrators , alcohol enforcement and local and state legislators to network and discuss legislative priorities , trends and best practices . Hosting legislative outreach programs helps drive change .”
BY ALEX VAN ABBEMA
Best Trade / Licensee Education Program : Iowa ABD
The Register ’ s Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa ( RAGBRAI ) is the oldest , largest and longest week-long bicycle touring event in the world , but over the years it has developed a reputation for partying and revelry .
Over 10,000 riders cycle through the routes each summer , and along the way they encountered hundreds of alcohol sellers . Most of the alcohol sales and operations along the routes had gone unregulated , as many of the alcohol retailers along the route had never received proper education , and the state ’ s alcohol laws were under-enforced .
Administrator Stephen Larson of the Iowa ABD saw this issue , and spearheaded a program that included set schedules for license applications and in-person visits with local authorities . The goal with the program was to educate sellers on how to properly follow Iowa ’ s alcohol laws , and ensure compliance with the state ’ s alcohol rules and regulations .
“ Because RAGBRAI tends to attract a lot of people and there ’ s a lot of alcohol consumed along the route , he thought it would be a good effort for us to get out , educate and reach out to license holders and other interested parties ,” says Heather Schaffer , a compliance officer at the agency .
Since liquor licensees along the routes had minimal regulation in the past , the Iowa ABD tried to educate as many people as possible in a short amount of time . Members of the ABD offered the Program for Alcohol Compliance Training ( IPACT ), a free program to help potential licensees learn about selling and serving . Over 500 users were certified in the program in towns along the RAGBRAI route in the months leading up to the event this year .
In 2016 , RAGBRAI operated a route through southern Iowa , and ABD regulators had onsite visits with each individual wholesaler , creating information packages from scratch . They checked in
24 StateWays | www . stateways . com | September / October 2017