Drawing the line

Title – Drawing the lineSource – The London Paper
Date – 29th September 2008

Just in case anyone was in any doubt (usually we call this denial when we address the actual drug user) cocaine is not very good for you. users will tell you their habit is under control and that they do it because they enjoy it. Now find me an ex cocaine user who thinks taking cocaine was a good idea or find a long time cocaine user who in hindsight thinks they had their use under control; it is very rare and generally these are the same people who like addicted gamblers, will only ever recount the good experiences they had on cocaine and seem to conveniently forget the bad ones.

But our role is not to lecture to drug users; our role is to help businesses, organisations and employers who suffer as a result of drug taking amongst their staff or in the working environment. Especially those people who have to work directly with the public and in areas associated with drug use such as the Licensed Retail Sector.

In order to inform those candidates attending our courses, we demonstrate the effects drugs have on people so that they can be easily identified, we demonstrate what drugs and drug litter actually looks like through our placebo drugs kits and we examine the effects of drugs and the dangers. Candidates can use this information when dealing with drug users enabling them to act more safely and proactively in enforcing zero tolerance policies.

This article not only shows the terrible effects cocaine can have on the human body, but what harmful substances are ‘cut’ with cocaine to increase the mark-up of the dealers. It never ceases to amaze me that people have any trust in dealers or believe that they have any morals. By their nature they are criminals, so why would you believe them when they tell you a drug they are selling you is pure or clean. They are killing you anyway, so why would they care what they cut into your ‘coke’?

At Beyond The Blue we run bespoke drugs awareness courses as well as industry specific courses such as the National Certificate for Licensees – Drugs Awareness (NCLDA). Several of our other courses also contain details sessions on drugs awareness including the National Certificate for Door Supervisors (NCDS) and In-House Security Induction (IHSI). Some of our current clients ask us to add specific drugs awareness sessions into existing courses such as the Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR) to turn what is usually a half day course into a full day course.

Please Contact Us for further details.

Please visit our website please visit at

www.btbl.co.uk

Cheers to good health

Title – Cheers to good healthSource – The London Paper
Date – 29th September 2008

So it’s official; Alcohol is good for you!

If we have ever doubted that drinking can have health benefits here is the proof, so we should all pop down to our local and top up with our favourite tipple.

It is just one of the many mixed messages that are out there, very rarely do we see the balanced view, one day a glass of red wine is recommended by doctors, the next we are talking about putting health warnings on packaging; so which is it?

The fact is as with most things in life it is all about balance. Alcohol has played a part in our lives and our society as long back as anyone can tell. Nearly all culture, even those that have been isolated from ‘modern’ society have found a way of fermenting fruits and other vegetation in order to produce one form of alcohol or another; even elephants are known to walk miles in search of fermenting fruits which get them drunk.

The problem as always is in the excesses of our society today. In moderation alcohol has health benefits and it can be enjoyed in a sociable and responsible way, adding to the foundation of our society. There is and was nothing wrong with the traditional meeting place in the local pub, if anything the erosion of this tradition has played its part the erosion of our communities. I know this first hand, because there are few, if any good local pubs in my area, they nearly all chase the ‘student pound’ discounting heavily and reducing their standards as a result. There are also few local shops, people instead going to out-of-town supermarkets. As a result I really don’t know people in my neighbourhood. This is just one consequence of the decline of the local pub.

The message is straight forward; drink sensibly and enjoy the health and social benefits; drink to excess and suffer ill health and social exclusion and decline.

Alcohol retailers have to play their part as well and Responsible Alcohol Retailing is one of the first steps. This does not mean that you miss out on profit. I am prepared to travel for 30 minutes to get to a pub I like in my ‘area’; when there are 3 within walking distance. If you get it right you don’t need to take part in the price wars, you can come out on top simply by putting the effort in.

Here is a question, if you have 3 members of staff offering a poor service to customers and 3 members of staff offering excellent service, which costs more? The answer is simple they cost the same; just with one you will make a profit and with the other you will give any potential profits away.

At Beyond The Blue we provide proactive employers training for their staff at every level. From the National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (NCPLH) to the Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR). We also run courses in Conflict Management and Resolution (CMR) which not only provide candidates with techniques and skills to manage Workplace Violence, but also help develop customer service skills through the communication exercises we demonstrate.

Please visit our website please visit at

www.btbl.co.uk

Why drinkers do it all again – they only recall the good bits

To view the original article Click Here

Title – Why drinkers do it all again – they only recall the good bits
Source – The Independent
Date – 10 September 2008

It is one of the most well known, least acknowledged secrets of our society; ‘alcohol is a drug’. Like many both legal and illegal drugs it alters our emotional, physiological and mental state. In moderation it can have a positive effect, making us more sociable and more relaxed; but like many drugs in excess it can have very negative side effects and lead to serious health issues including, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cirrhosis of the liver, amongst others; again like many other drugs it can also be highly addictive.

What is less well recognised is the role of licence holders in the supply and sale of alcohol. We all clearly understand the role of doctors and pharmacists in the sale and supply of prescription drugs and drugs sold under licence at our local pharmacy. We accept the great responsibility they have to control drugs for the purpose of healing or relieving pain. The pharmacist is in effect the licence holder and they sell drugs under licence and take personal responsibility for each and every sale. When we go to the pharmacy we don’t blink an eye when we are asked about other drugs we might already be on or when we are told how many we should take a day, or even when we are questioned about our personal habits to ensure we can safely and effectively take the drug we are about to be supplied.

If Personal Licence Holders authorised to sell alcohol or to authorise the sale of alcohol were to ask similar questions of their customers, the reaction would be very difficult. I would challenge you to find a Personal Licence holder in the country who has not made the statement “I think you are a little too drunk…” only to be told by a customer (after a 30 second delay as they struggle to grasp even the basic vocabulary) who is only able to stand thanks to the assistance of their ‘sober’ friend and your doorman, “I’m not drunk, I’ve only had two pints…”

Many Personal Licence holders or Premises Licence Holders do not fully appreciate the very nature of their role, they are authorising the sale of a controlled drug and they have complete responsibility not only for who they sell the drug to, but also the dosage of that drug. To hold this responsible position not only do they not require a degree as in the case of the pharmacist, but many even frown at the 1 day compulsory training they are made to complete.

Even more staggering is the complete lack of understanding of the consumer as to the responsibility the licence holder has for their welfare when they have consumed a drug that alters their mental state after the very first drink to the point where driving becomes dangerous. It’s a paradox that the average customer appreciates the drink drive laws, but refuses to accept the guidance and discretion of the licence holder and their training in regard to how much alcohol is too much…

I’m not advocating that we ever reach a situation where personal licence holders question staff as to their personal habits to determine if they should be allowed to drink alcohol. However I do advocate that they should realise their responsibilities and take them seriously; that they should undergo the necessary training to allow them to make judgements that seek to protect the consumer when the customers own ability to make informed judgements is diminished by their consumption of the drug ‘alcohol’.

The starting point for training is the Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR) for front line staff serving alcohol, supervisors and managers should be encouraged to obtain the National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (NCPLH) and subsequent training such as the National Certificate for Licensees – Drug Awareness (NCLDA) and Conflict Management & Resolution Training (CMR).

Please visit our website please visit at www.btbl.co.uk

Last orders are called on five pubs every day

To view the original article Click Here

Title – Last orders are called on five pubs every day
Source – Metro
Date – 8th September 2008

It’s not really new news, but it is worse news. The number of pubs shutting continues to rise; most people within the industry already know all about the pressures.

The double whammy of higher costs and less trade is forcing those who have been on the margins to close and there seems to be no help on the horizon; rather there seems just to be more pain. The ‘credit crunch’ which is in itself bad enough, is being talked up into a storm which is making the average consumer feel even poorer than they actually are; commodity prices are going through the roof and these are being passed on to consumers and businesses alike, pubs are getting more expensive to run and regulars have less disposable income. As always, when costs go up, prices go up; when cost go down, prices stay at the inflated level. There seems to be remarkably little noise about the fact that oil has come back down to the $100 a barrel mark from near $150… or little reflection in the cost of fuel…

As for the banks they seem to have gambled and lost; or is that gambled and we all lost as our banking fees rise and service falls.

All in all it doesn’t help when the plight of pubs is ignored, with 36 a week going bust can we assume that this account for over 100 jobs a week being lost, 100 more people claiming benefits, 36 less pubs paying tax into the government’s coffers.. is this really something the government is willing to ignore or make worse through increased taxes and increased legislation?

But it is not all doom and gloom, there are still plenty of pubs making a profit and while growth in the country generally may be stagnant, the housing market faltering and bankers are being forced to struggle by on 6 figure bonuses rather than 7 figure ones…, the UK still has a vibrant economy and there is still a healthy market there for those businesses who can offer value and exemplary service to customers; but where being average used to get you by, now with anything less than excellence it is difficult to turn a profit.

To achieve and maintain excellence the first step is training and ensuring staff on all levels understand their responsibilities and your expectations. Through both bespoke training and Consultancy as well as more statutory courses such as the Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR) and the National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (NCPLH) we can help you meet the expectations of your customers, beat the ‘credit crunch’ and see your business grow.

Please visit our website please visit at www.btbl.co.uk

Cops’ yellow cards to stop drunk thugs

Title – Cops’ yellow cards to stop drunk thugs
Source – London Lite
Date – 8th September 2008

Used sensibly these are the kind of measures that will be welcomed by premises licence holders, personal licence holders and door supervisors alike. They compliment schemes such as Pubwatch and show that there is a common purpose between the police, licensing authorities and licensed premises operators and that each has their role to play.

It has long been our attitude that these three bodies need to be working more closely to combat the problems and to stop working against each other.

There is obviously a need to address those irresponsible alcohol retailers out there, but the overwhelming message we send out to personal licence holders and premises licence holders is that by working with the police and local authorities they become part of the solution, rather than being part of the problem. It is still amazing the amount of retailers that believe the authorities are intent on working against them and it is this mentality that makes them defensive and reclusive rather than proactive. The conclusion is always the same, the proactive premises get the support of the authorities and the reclusive ones are looked upon with suspicion and ultimately waste time, effort and money defending their position and miss out on valuable intelligence and advice.

It is much more expensive for a premises licence holder to ‘police’ their premises with door supervisors and increased fixed security technology, than to co-operate with the local police and allow them through initiatives such as this ‘Yellow Card’ scheme to do it for them. The threat of ‘paid policing’ is already here with the potential for ‘Alcohol Disorder Zones’ to be established under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, without encouraging the police and local authorities to enact these powers because irresponsible retailers choose not to co-operate with them.

Throughout our training in the National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (NCPLH) we demonstrate the benefits of co-operating with the authorities and the penalties for failing to do so. Training of staff should be the first step taken by all employers when they take on new staff in any position and we provide training in subjects that cover every aspect of the Licensed Retail Sector, these include; The Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR) for front line staff selling or supplying alcohol, The National Certificate for Licensees - Drug Awareness (NCLDA) and Conflict Management and Resolution Training (CMR) for employees working in environments where they face aggression and Violence in the Workplace.

Please visit our website please visit at www.btbl.co.uk