spiritsNEWS April 2023

Croatia: “I serve responsibly”

Back in 2019, the Coordination of Producers, Importers and Distributors of Spirits in Croatia under the Croatian Employers Association (HUP) decided to engage in helping to reduce alcohol-related harm and in particular underage drinking by developing a responsible serving programme for on-trade staff. Because of covid, the plans were delayed and the initial plan for onsite training was converted into an online training programme. The project was developed in partnership with the Association for HoReCa and Tourism, the Guild of Hospitality and tourism workers and the Association of Employers in the hotel sector as well as the Chamber of trade and crafts.

The aim of the online training for bar staff is to ensure compliance with the legal requirements regarding the sales of alcoholic beverages. Bar staff, sometimes young people, in their first or interim job, need education and awareness raising that it is forbidden to sell and serve alcohol to underage people (under 18’s). They learn what the risks are, acute and chronic, related to underage drinking and they develop skills on how to check on the age and refuse service to intoxicated people in a way that does not create issues for public order and the safety of staff and clients in the premise. Bar staff is trained to pass on advice to their clients not to drink and drive, to use measuring cups for pouring alcohol and are strongly invited to make water and non-alcoholic cocktails available. Upon completion of the online training programme, participants received a certificate that will be recognised across the Horeca industry. 

The E-training was developed in cooperation with Algebra, the largest private educational organization in Croatia. It is coming at a timely moment when the Croatian Government decided to sharply increase fines on those selling alcohol to minors or intoxicated people.

Initially, the project was intended to involve bars from four Croatian cities, however, bars from 12 cities participated in the project (Zagreb, Split, Šibenik, Sinj, Rijeka, Krk (Baška), Opatija, Zadar, Osijek, Slavonski Brod, Vukovar and Dubrovnik) between October and December 2022. In this 3-month period, staff from 41 Horeca companies finished the training programme. A new wave of training will be launched in the second half of the year.

Evaluation with bar staff will be carried out at the end of 2023 and compared with the survey made in the pilot phase.

The initiative received great press coverage, and companies shared very positive feedback. For instance, the Hilton Hotel chain praised the training programme and asked if they could include it into the training package they offer to their employees. 

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