The SABMiller Scholars ProgrammeTackling irresponsible drinking in the UK through professional training

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Alcohol abuse, and associated societal issues such as violence, drunk-driving and under-age drinking, are a cause of concern around the world. Over the next 10 years, the World Health Organization predicts a 17% increase in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease – illnesses to which alcohol abuse is a recognised contributing factor. The causes of alcohol-related harm are broad and complex and there is no simple solution.

At SABMiller we care about the harmful effects of irresponsible drinking – this is our number one sustainable development priority. As a global brewer, we recognise the challenge and are determined to help tackle it by working collectively with stakeholders and through targeted interventions in the countries where we operate. For example, in the UK we are a signatory to the Government’s Public Health Responsibility Deal (2011), which includes specific alcohol pledges on Tackling Under-age Sales and Community Actions to Tackle Alcohol Harms.

Christine Thompson, Government Affairs Manager at SABMiller, said: “The Scholars Programme is an important part of our approach to discouraging irresponsible drinking in the UK, because it gives people who sell alcohol in bars and shops the knowledge and the strategies they need to prevent under-age sales and identify the signs of drunkenness and other forms of intoxication. By intervening before an illegal sale of alcohol takes place, bar and counter staff can prevent irresponsible and harmful drinking.”

Part of the solutionIntroduction

SABMiller launched its UK Scholars Programme in 2009 in partnership with BIIAB. Now entering its fourth year, it provides training and a nationally recognised qualification for people working in UK licensed premises or selling alcohol in shops and off-licences. Key objectives are to eradicate sales of alcohol to people under 18 and to people who are drunk.

For more background on the Scholars Programme, please download the companion to this brochure at: http://biiab.bii.org/documents/933.

Scholars Programme objectives

• Encourage a training culture in small businesses

• Give them a helping hand through subsidised training, which gives them strategies for dealing with difficult issues

• Encourage individual bar staff to take personal responsibility

• Discourage irresponsible drinking and reduce its impact on people and communities.

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“We’re grateful to SABMiller because their funding allowed us to be more ambitious, to go deeper and to reach further with our training and support.”Mike Burton-Nickson

Mike Burton-Nickson of licensing consultancy InnConfidence has used the Level 1 Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing course extensively in Halton, Cheshire. This area has one of the country’s worst records for under-age sales and alcohol-related admissions to hospital by under-18s. As a former Licensing Sergeant for Merseyside Police, Mike understands the importance of respect and co-operation between retailers, the police and licensing authorities: “Without trust you get bad feeling on all sides, which is counterproductive. My job is to help people repair these relationships and work together on problems such as under-age sales.”

As part of the Halton Responsible Retailing Programme, Mike worked with the police, health and licensing authorities between 2007 and 2011. By building contacts with off-licences, pubs and bars, he helped retailers understand their legal responsibilities and used training to help embed good practice. “I also worked with the police and trading standards to persuade them to adopt a rehabilitative approach to offences rather than simply one of prosecution.”

Although most of Mike’s work in Halton was funded by the local Health Authority, the SABMiller Scholars Programme made an important contribution – 50 candidates were trained through the Scholars Programme in 2011. “We’re grateful to SABMiller because their funding allowed us to be more ambitious, to go deeper and to reach further with our training and support.” Halton Borough Council has reported a reduction in test purchase failure rates and a significant improvement in anti-social behaviour statistics. In recognition of Mike’s work in Halton, InnConfidence won the 2011 BII NITA Award for Social Responsibilities.

Building trust in local communities

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The success of the SABMiller Scholars Programme is made possible by the support of the BIIAB and local licensing authorities, and by the professionalism and commitment of the people who deliver training at centres across the UK. Some of these trainers have many years’ experience of licensing, and this is reflected in the following case studies.

Scholars Programme in Action

Since 2009, the Scholars Programme has funded training for almost 3,000 people from small and independent (non-chain) businesses across the UK. Everyone who passes the examination receives an Ofqual-regulated qualification: the BIIAB Level 1 Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR). This is a nationally accredited, life-long, portable qualification.

The BIIAB reports a consistently positive response to the programme from licensing authorities, employers and trainees. The map on this page shows the wide geographical spread of the training sponsored by the Scholars Programme.

Impact of the Scholars Programme

BristolCardiff

Birmingham

ManchesterLiverpool

Glasgow

Belfast

Edinburgh

London

Dublin

Mike Burton-Nickson of InnConfidence with the 2011 BII NITA Award for Social Responsibilities.

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The campaign had the support of Derbyshire Constabulary, and Carolyn and the council have since been widely praised for their work by local licensees and representatives of Pubwatch. “The course definitely helps people gain confidence in their professional skills and knowledge,” said Carolyn. “Some of our Level 1 candidates have now taken the BIIAB Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders.”

Carolyn is planning two further Level 1 courses for June 2012. She is an affiliate member of the BII and has used BIIAB as a training requirement for the council’s Licensing Team and Members of the Licensing and Public Protection Committee.

In 2011, a test-purchasing exercise in Erewash, Derbyshire, produced a very high failure rate for under-age sales. To tackle the problem, Carolyn Singleton, Licensing Manager at Erewash Borough Council, launched a campaign targeted at smaller on- and off-licensed premises. A key part of the campaign was the Level 1 Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing course sponsored by SABMiller.

“I saw the course as a positive way to approach the problem of under-age sales in Erewash,” said Carolyn. “Initiatives like this help the trade understand their responsibilities. And, in cases where we have to review a licence for persistent under-age sales or serving to drunks or mismanagement, they show that we as an authority have done our best to help.” About 30 people took the course in Erewash in 2011/2012 and all gained the qualification. The training was delivered by Taylor Hall, which specialises in the licensed trade.

Targeting under-age drinking in Derbyshire“I remembered instantly what Gill had said about the adults purchasing alcohol with a meal for someone under 18, and used my knowledge to deal with it.”Kevin Fani

“The course definitely helps people gain confidence in their professional skills and knowledge.”Carolyn Singleton

The Scholars Programme has been invaluable in helping Licensing Matters extend training to everyone who needs it. Gill has used it to great effect across the north-west, combining it with licensing conferences where owners and managers can learn from the police and other experts about their responsibilities. A licensing conference in November 2011 at King George’s Hall in Blackburn was followed by Level 1 training for 41 people (with 30 places sponsored by SABMiller). Kevin Fani from the Godfather restaurant said: “I found the day extremely enjoyable and used the training the very next day when a group of 16 to 18 year olds came into my restaurant. I remembered instantly what Gill had said about the adults purchasing alcohol with a meal for someone under 18, and used my knowledge to deal with it.”

After an off-licence, pub or bar has failed a test purchase it is on the “radar” of the police and local authority, who will be watching closely for further failings. This is what Gill Sherratt of Licensing Matters calls the “slippery slope” – a downward cycle of trouble that can lead rapidly to premises having their licence revoked. However, with the help of the Level 1 Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing, Gill is dedicated to helping licensees and retailers get back on track.

Licensing Matters is a licensing consultancy and training service based in the north-west. It has developed into what Gill, a former police officer, says is “a protector of the trade”, working closely with local authorities and the police to train retailers who have failed a test purchase. Gill said: “People who have failed are offered the opportunity to either pay the fine or take the Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing. All candidates elect for the training and the police are provided with full feedback of their performance and attitude.” Gill stresses the importance of educating owners and managers of premises as well as their staff so that training becomes second nature.

Helping retailers avoid the “slippery slope”

Candidates sit the Level 1 Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing exam in November 2011 at King George’s Hall, Blackburn.

Councillor Vera Tumanow, left, chair of Erewash Borough Council’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee, presents ARAR certificates to candidates. Derbyshire Constabulary were represented at the presentation by Stephen Fairbrother, Inspector – Licensing & Operational Support.

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Promoting responsible alcohol use in Surrey

“People don’t want to get into problems with the police and licensing authorities, so they generally see the training as a great way to become more professional and keep on the right side of the law.”Nick Bardsley

Nick cites Sam Chambers, manager of Oscar’s Bar in Hull City Centre, as a perfect example of this approach to training. Not only did she put all her staff through the training, she also took the course herself, even though she already held the Award for Personal Licence Holders qualification and her own Personal Licence. “It’s a very effective course because it gives bar staff a lot of extra knowledge and confidence,” said Sam. “It also makes them more employable within the industry. From my point of view, I don’t have to worry so much because I know I have staff who understand their legal responsibilities.”

As managing director of Hull-based Springfield Management Training, Nick Bardsley is well placed to judge the excellent response of local licensees to the Level 1 Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing. Springfield was able to offer 30 places through the Scholars Programme in 2011, and these were quickly taken up after the Hull Licensed Victuallers Association promoted the opportunity to its members.

In Nick’s view, most businesses are highly positive about the course and about the need to comply with the Licensing Act. “People don’t want to get into problems with the police and licensing authorities, so they generally see the training as a great way to become more professional and keep on the right side of the law.”

Embracing compliance – Hull licensees welcome the Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing

Sam Chambers and Nick Bardsley at Oscars Bar in Hull.

SABMiller House in Woking, which hosted ARAR training in August 2011.

SABMiller has its UK headquarters in Woking, Surrey, where its UK business Miller Brands leads the Surrey Alcohol Responsibility Initiative (SARI). This uses the Level 1 Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing as part of a wider community programme to help local businesses and the local authority tackle the issue of irresponsible drinking. In August 2011, SABMiller hosted training at its Woking office for 24 people from Surrey pubs, bars and restaurants.

As part of its involvement in SARI, Miller Brands works in partnership with representatives from the local council, Surrey Chamber of Commerce, the NHS and the police, among others. Its activities have included a survey on alcohol responsibility in partnership with the local radio station, and an alcohol education programme in schools with the local council and Drinkaware. SARI is also investigating the impact of improved street lighting on reducing alcohol-related crime in local hot spots, and the possibility of launching a Best Bar None scheme.

“Discouraging irresponsible drinking is the number one sustainable development priority in our ‘Ten Priorities. One Future’ framework. To this end, we engage stakeholders and work collectively with them to address alcohol issues. Miller Brands’ work with SARI is an important part of this.”Gary Haigh, Managing Director, Miller Brands (UK) Ltd

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The Scholars Programme is part of SABMiller’s global commitment to raising standards in the drinks industry in countries where it operates. For example, in 2012 we launched our Responsible Trader Programme in South Africa. The first of its kind in that country, the programme actively encourages alcohol retailers to be champions in the fight against alcohol abuse.

Our Respect 21 campaign for US alcohol retailers urges them to check the ID of younger customers, and reinforces the message that “21 means 21”. About 900 retailers have participated over the last six years. As a result of the programme, the level of ID checks typically shifts from 40% to 80% and stays high.

SABMiller has confirmed a further year of sponsorship for the Scholars Programme (2012/2013). Cathie Smith, Director of BIIAB, welcomed the announcement: “This is really good news because we have ambitious plans for the partnership. For the 2012/13 project we plan to target 10–12 licensing authorities in England and Wales where there is a high density of licensed premises. The continued sponsorship of SABMiller gives greater flexibility in offering the Level 1 Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing to support licensing objectives and the employability of individuals in the sector.”

A global commitmentSABMiller is one of the largest brewers in the world, with more than 200 beer brands and 70,000 employees across 76 countries. Its UK subsidiary Miller Brands, launched in 2005, has responsibility for the development of SABMiller’s international premium brands across the UK and Ireland, including Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell and Miller Genuine Draft.

SABMiller has become a global leader through doing business locally – nurturing local portfolios of brands that work in their local markets.

The company has built leading positions in all regions of the world, expanding from its roots in Africa into both emerging and developed markets. It has grown through a culture of operational excellence, delivering high-quality products, innovation and sustainable growth.

www.sabmiller.com

Wholly owned by BII, the professional body for the licensed retail sector, BIIAB is the leading awarding body for the industry and is recognised by Ofqual and the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). Over 1.5 million BIIAB qualifications have been awarded to date.

www.biiab.org

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