Provincetown, Mass., -The Provincetown Police Department announced today that it is making a training video available to servers of alcoholic beverages to help them prevent underage drinking.
The video, “Stop Underage Drinking”, which is available in both CD-Rom and VHS formats, is being distributed throughout Massachusetts with assistance from local police departments. The Liquor Liability Joint Underwriting Association of Massachusetts (LLJUA), which is based in Westboro, developed the video with the Central Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association. LLJUA is a liquor liability insurer of last resort.
“Underage drinking is one of the biggest problems we face,” according to Provincetown Police Chief Tobias. “By making this training film available to servers of alcohol throughout our community, we hope to reduce the incidence of underage drinking. Anything we can do to cut down on underage drinking is a worthwhile effort and will make our community safer.”
The video is designed to help bartenders, waiters and waitresses, package store employees, caterers and business owners understand the techniques used by underage drinkers when they attempt to purchase alcohol. It also explains security features in the new Massachusetts driver’s license that are designed to help prevent underage drinking.
“The video provides an easy and effective way to teach servers of alcohol how to identify phony Ids,” according to LLJUA President Charles W. Bucke. “It also explains tricks underage drinkers use to obtain alcoholic beverages.”
The video was produced by Ellen McCurley and directed by Ian “Sunny” Lake, both of Crush Media Solutions of Northboro based on a script from David P. Kowal of Kowal Communications, Inc. of Northboro. Filming took place at The Naked Fish Restaurant and Julio’s Liquors, both based in Westboro, and at the Westboro Police Department. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Registry of Motor Vehicles, staff of The White Horse Tavern in Boston and Peter G. Dowd, manager of The Naked Fish, provided technical assistance.
The video uses a combination of professional actors and volunteers, including members of the Shrewsbury Police Department and the Shrewsbury High School Drama Department.
The idea for the video began when former Westborough Police Chief Glenn Parker approached Bucke with the idea for the video. When Parker retired, Shrewsbury Police Chief Wayne Sampson and new Westborough Police Chief Alan Gordon stepped in and offered their assistance.
“Education is the best way to ensure that alcohol is served responsibly,” said Chief Ned Merrick of Plainville, President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. “The greater the level of awareness, the more lives we can save.”