Delaware § 1201 - Findings and declaration of policy.

§ 1201. Findings and declaration of policy.

It is determined and declared as a matter of legislative findings that:

(1) The irresponsible service and consumption of alcoholic beverages has had a significant adverse impact on highway safety, personal health and individual welfare and is not in the best interests of the citizens of this State;

(2) Commercial servers of alcoholic beverages who are licensed by the State have a responsibility to ensure that their customers are served alcoholic beverages in a responsible and appropriate manner;

(3) Responsible server training programs have proven to be an effective means of addressing, in a positive and constructive manner, the irresponsible and inappropriate service of alcoholic beverages by commercial establishments;

(4) The voluntary responsible alcoholic beverage server training program which has been conducted by the Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement staff has been well received by those licensed commercial servers of alcoholic beverages who have undergone the training;

(5) A voluntary server training program cannot be as effective as a mandatory program which would reach all licensed commercial servers of alcoholic beverages;

(6) Such a mandatory training program should be provided to licensees and their employees at a reasonable cost so as to encourage their full support and participation while creating an incentive for the employees to take the program seriously; and

(7) The establishment of a mandatory responsible alcoholic beverage server training program will promote highway safety and the public health and welfare of the citizens of Delaware.

Therefore, it is declared to be the policy of this State to promote the safety, health and welfare of its citizens by the establishment and operation of a mandatory responsible alcoholic beverage server training program pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

68 Del. Laws, c. 168, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 602, §  6;  72 Del. Laws, c. 486, §§  15, 21;  75 Del. Laws, c. 80, §§  1, 2;