Jarrod Jones , Director of Stores Operations Division , Tawanna Bedgood , Performance , Safety and Wellness Manager , Human Resources Division Brian Guilbeau , Director of Product Management , W . L . Goodwin , Director of Finance and General Services Division , David Peacock , Chief Counsel , Legal Division , Randall Winkler , Assistant Administrator , ABC Board , Mark Dokas , Director of Information Technology Division , Curtis E . Stewart , Administrator , ABC Board , Neil Graff , Chief Operations Officer , ABC Board , Summer Childers , Director of Licensing & Compliance Division , Greg Sims , Director of Tax & Trade Division , Dean Argo , Manager of Government Relations & Communications .
censed , permitted businesses through education and inspections . The agency may suspend or revoke licenses or permits that repeatedly commit the same offense or are a danger to the health , safety and welfare of the people of the state of Alabama . The state currently has nearly 17,000 alcohol licensees and more than 8,000 tobacco licensees .
A large portion of the agency ’ s education outreach target young people , focused on preventing underage drinking . The Alabama ABC also offers trainings for licensees , including the Responsible Vendor Program ( RVP ), in an effort to help prevent alcohol sales to minors and to intoxicated persons . While not required , businesses who opt to participate in the program must meet certain requirements to maintain certification , including training of all employees within 30 days of hire and semi-annual training for all personnel . RVP-certified businesses that remain in compliance receive the benefit of mitigated fines .
In addition , those businesses are not required to attend a commission hearing on a third offense for sales to minors , as non-certified businesses are : on a third offense for sales to minors , they would be decertified from RVP and required to attend a hearing upon a fourth offense . More than 1,000 licensees have participated in RVP .
In partnership with local law enforcement , the agency also offers the annual Substance Abuse Youth Summit ( SAYS ) to bring together youth advocates from various agencies and professions to discuss youth support efforts and collaboration opportunities . SAYS has taken place for the past three years thanks to funding provided by a grant from the National Alcoholic Beverage Control Association ( NABCA ). More than 300 people have attended the event each year .
“ The SAYS conference is a great networking opportunity for a wide cross section of professions who serve children ,” says Dean Argo , government relations manager for the Alabama ABC . “ It was originally intended to get anyone and everyone who works with youth in the same room hearing the same message at the same time .”
Additionally , the Board ’ s Under Age , Under Arrest program brings agency representatives into schools to talk with students about the dangers of drinking . The program features three main components : education , which focuses on sharing alcohol usage statistics ; consequences , which are highlighted to students by representatives from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency , which partners with the Alabama ABC on the program ; and personal experiences , which are often shared by volunteer moms who speak on behalf of Mothers Against Drunk Driving ( MADD ).
“ The program offers three different perspectives on this issue , and over the years it has evolved to focus on better decision-making as students get older and transition to college ,” Argo says . “ We make ourselves available as much as we can to partner with and support our schools , and we actively promote the program on our website .”
Since its launch in 2013 , the program has reached more
12 StateWays • Spring 2024 www . stateways . com