A recent study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs sheds light on the alarming trend of restaurants and bars failing to adhere to laws prohibiting the service of alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons. Conducted in the San Francisco Bay area, the study revealed that a mere 21% of establishments correctly refused service to clearly intoxicated individuals, raising concerns about the effectiveness of existing regulations.
Led by Robert Saltz, Ph.D., from the Prevention Research Center at Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation in Berkeley, California, the study utilized “pseudo-patrons” feigning intoxication to assess establishments’ compliance with alcohol service laws. Despite laws prohibiting such service in almost all U.S. states, enforcement remains a challenge, with varying quality and coverage of responsible beverage service training across states.
The implications of non-compliance are significant, given the potential to prevent alcohol-related harm, including a substantial portion of traffic accidents in the United States. To explore potential factors influencing refusal rates, the study examined variables such as establishment type and gender of the pseudo-patron.
Over the course of a year, trained young adults visited 300 establishments, with findings indicating low rates of refusal, particularly among male patrons. Interestingly, upscale establishments displayed marginally higher refusal rates, though still falling short of ideal compliance levels.
Addressing this issue requires multifaceted approaches, as highlighted by Saltz and colleagues. While enhanced server training holds promise, it alone may not suffice. A combination of legislative measures, rigorous training, law enforcement, and community awareness initiatives may be necessary to effectively tackle the issue and promote responsible alcohol service practices.
