Wednesday 15 September

Responsible Hosting at Wine and Food Festival

Making visitors feel safe and providing food and alternative liquid refreshments, are key messages of a Host Responsibility Seminar timed to precede the McCullochs Gisborne Wine and Food Festival this year.

Winery staff manning stalls at the Wine and Food Festival can attend the Host Responsibility and Sale of Liquor Act Seminar, ahead of the festival, which is expected to attract over 3500 people.

TDH Health Promoter Sunil Kushor said while most festival-goers exercise moderation as they sample the range of wine and alcohol on offer, some people are not so sensible.

“By taking part in a Host Responsibility and Sale of Liquor Act Seminar, winery stall staff and others working that day, can make their visitors feel welcome, comfortable and more importantly, safe.”

Providing a safe environment is a cornerstone of host responsibility.

“Premises need to give a clear message that the safety and comfort of their customers is paramount, and the Seminar provides advice on how to do that.”

Mr Kushor said in some cases, premises have to stop the service of alcohol where the safety of a patron cannot be guaranteed.

“This is not always an easy part of the job but the Seminar educates attendees about the concept of ‘service substitution’ and ways to deal with difficult patrons.”

The Seminar also advises on the best types of food to be served and the provision of alternative non-alcoholic refreshments.

“Food works to reduce intoxication by slowing the speed at which alcohol is absorbed in the body. Meanwhile a reasonable range of refreshments makes the customer’s choice not to drink alcohol, the easy choice.”

The evening Seminar also looks at licence conditions and penalties and enforcements, she said.

The Host Responsibility and Sale of Liquor Act Seminar will be held Wednesday 6 October 2004, in the Morris Adair Building in Gisborne Hospital. For more information phone (06) 867 9119.

ENDS

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