At this year’s Richland County Fair, members of the Sidney Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, Richland Coundy Fair board members and security guards attended a free alcohol sales and service training.

This training was created by the Montana Department of Revenue’s Liquor Education Project. The training involves teaching responsible alcohol sales and service for hospitality businesses that are licensed to sell or serve alcoholic beverages. This was just one of the things the fair board, Richland County Sheriff’s Office and Richland County 4-H promoted in an effort to ensure the fair was a safe, family-friendly event.

In addition, these community groups used signage in the camper and beer garden areas, and an identification scanner was used by volunteers to reduce underage sales at the fair’s beer garden. Another new addition this year was the 4-H members and leaders were informed through newsletters and leaders council meetings that alcohol was not to be consumed outside the confines of their camper.

According to risk assessments and a survey conducted at the fair, these things positively contributed to keeping people safe. As opposed to last year’s reports, there were no reported alcohol-related problems in the camping area or fights in the beer gardens.

“We were pleased with the strategies used at the fair this year to reduce underage drinking and alcohol sales to obviously intoxicated persons. We also appreciate the fair board’s willingness to implement these changes and for the collaboration of efforts by all,” Sheriff Brad Baisch said.

To help identify problems and potential solutions, risk assessments were conducted at the rodeos, the LeAnn Rimes concert and in the beer gardens. Melissa Larson, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, conducted the risk assessments. “These assessments are one piece of a comprehensive, community-wide effort to reduce alcohol related problems at community events in Richland County,” Larson said.

Under the Influence, a local community group focused on preventing alcohol-related problems in Richland County, hopes to present the assessment results to the fair board at its October meeting.

Jamie Larson, Richland County Fair manager, reported, “I think the fair board’s efforts in working with the sheriff’s office, Sidney Chamber of Commerce and District II Drug & Alcohol had a positive impact on this year’s fair. The fair is a place to relax and have fun in a safe and responsible manner; this is what the fair board and myself strive for every year. I also feel the alcohol sales and service training was an asset and encourage those in the future to attend if possible.”

Lori Obergfell, a voluntary participant in alcohol server training, said, “I think the training is very eye opening, and everyone that has the opportunity to take the class should.”

Alcohol server training offers a broad set of techniques designed to reduce the risk of over intoxication and sales or service of alcohol to minors. As part of the program, participants learn how to recognize the signs of intoxication, decline sales to intoxicated patrons, recognize altered or fake IDs, recognize when an adult might be trying to purchase alcohol for a minor and prevent sales to minors.

For more information about local efforts to reduce alcohol related problems in Richland County, call Bridget Tighe at 433-4097 or e-mail b.tighe@live.com.