Posted on March 26, 2006
The Foundation for Alcohol Responsibility is not anti-alcohol; it is pro-responsible consumption.
FAR is a non-profit organization founded by Health Communications, Inc., whose goal is to educate communities on safe and responsible use of alcohol. Harrisonburg is the first test city for its inaugural program.
Harrisonburg was chosen because of its proximity to FAR headquarters in Arlington and because of interest and support within the community.
“Working with the citizens of Harrisonburg has been a true pleasure,” FAR President Jill Kerr said. “Everyone here has been extremely helpful and enthusiastic. Harrisonburg truly is ‘the friendly city.’”
The initiative is currently training bartenders and servers in six local restaurants, including Dave’s Taverna and the Artful Dodger, on how to identify whether a patron has had too much to drink or is underage.
“The training is designed to empower servers and give them confidence,” Kerr said. “They learn things such as intoxication rate factors and behavioral cues that identify intoxicated individuals.”
David Miller, owner of Dave’s Downtown Taverna, said the FAR program can be helpful in furthering education on alcohol consumption.
“We have no problem saying ‘No,’ because the next day [the customer] is going to say, ‘Thanks,’ and can come back and enjoy themselves again,” Miller said.
FAR estimates that it will spend between $80,000 and $100,000 during the first year of the initiative. FAR expects to begin funding for the training of key members of the university community in the fall and Kerr expects that the education of the community on responsible sale and consumption of alcohol will result in fewer instances of drunk driving and other alcohol-related crimes.
“I believe that all of the change in Harrisonburg will be positive,” Kerr said. “The most pervasive change may be subtle, but I hope that will be an increased awareness of responsible consumption practices by consumers of alcohol and servers of alcohol.”
Junior Elissa Hansen said she thinks the program will be beneficial.
“I think [the initiative] is a good idea,” she said. “I think anything that can help keep dangerous people off the roads, from hurting themselves or hurting other people, is a good idea.”
Special Agent with the Virginia Alcohol and Beverage Control Danny thinks the FAR program can only help people and the community.
“I think that we are very lucky to have people like Jill and her organization coming here to pilot this program for us,” said Blye. “I would like to see folks here welcome her and keep an open mind.”
According to Kerr, the program’s effectiveness will be measured through police reports, hospital reports and surveys of the community, including students, restaurant employees and private citizens.
Even though it may take up to five years to be able to fully assess the results of the program, Kerr hopes to begin expanding FAR’s initiatives during that time.
“We are already being approached by other communities who are interested in funding for alcohol responsibility initiatives,” she said. “My dream is that our efforts here in Harrisonburg will be recognized and that FAR will be approached with large enough contributions that we can run scores of programs simultaneously.”
