A thousand more responsible alcohol retailers hit the streets

23-Jun-2006

 

 Over a thousand people have achieved the BIIAB Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR) since its launch in November 2005. Candidates include front line staff in convenience stores and supermarkets, the sector often targeted by underage purchasers.

ARAR was launched to give people who sold alcohol but did not hold a personal licence the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge about the Licensing Act and their responsibilities within it. The qualification is often the first step in starting a career in the licensed trade and can be some candidates’ first professional qualification.

The ARAR is aimed at staff in all licensed trade venues and a number of major pub companies have agreed to roll the programme out to their bar staff, illustrating the value of the award to the sector. Colleges have adopted ARAR as part of their student enrichment programme for students who may work part time in the licensed trade.

Cathie Smith, Director of BIIAB, is heartened by the take-up and said, “BIIAB launched the ARAR as we believed that to operate in a socially responsible manner all staff selling and serving alcohol need to be aware of their important personal responsibilities. BIIAB has been developing qualifications for the last 24 years and we strive to meet the needs of the sector.

She added, “The licensed retail sector is increasingly being asked to prove it is socially responsible. We know BII members operate in this way but more frontline staff, regardless of whether they hold a personal license or not, need to be aware of the law and how to sell alcohol within it. A thousand candidates passing ARAR in six months is fantastic and I look forward to even more people getting qualified through our approved centres across the country.”

For more information on the ARAR and all other BIIAB qualifications visit www.biiab.org




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Email melanie@bii.org
Contact Melanie Taylor Communications Manager 01276 417863/ 07795 394660