Alaska liquor board to weigh renewal of TIPS server training course

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board will consider renewing the Training for Intervention Procedures, or TIPS, alcohol server course when it meets Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Robert B. Atwood Building in Anchorage.

State law requires the board to review each approved alcohol server course at least once every three years. Servers, supervisors and security staff at licensed businesses must complete an approved course within 30 days of hiring and renew every three years, according to the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office. The office says approval depends on a course covering 16 specified areas of Alaska law.

TIPS is one of three courses the office lists. The others are Training for Alcohol Professionals from Alaska CHARR and Alaska Responsible Serving of Alcohol from Rserving.

Special Investigator Joe Hamilton reviewed the classroom and online versions of TIPS. In a March 24 letter to the board, he wrote that after corrections were made, the course meets state requirements.

Samantha Montalbano of Austin, Texas-based 360 Training filed the renewal application. It covers two courses: one for servers at bars and restaurants and one for sellers at stores. The application says all trainers are certified through a two-day TIPS Train-The-Trainer workshop.

Asked how rural premises will be served, the application says the course will be offered online by webinar and "will be available as requested." The office's course list says TIPS is available by webinar and in person around Alaska.

Renewal costs $250, compared with $800 for a new course provider. The meeting opens at 9 am with public comment.