Responsible Alcohol Service Training for Preventing DWI

Overseen By Lila Martinez

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Klein Buendel, Inc.

Disqualifiers: Family member participating, Under 19

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

1172 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Responsible beverage service (RBS) training for alcohol servers is a promising intervention for reducing driving while intoxicated (DWI) by alcohol. Training, certification, and in-service contact improves professionalism and effectiveness of prevention interventions delivered by community members such as alcohol servers. This SBIR Fast-track project will develop and test an in-service professional development component to the WayToServe® online RBS training to improve the effectiveness of RBS training in order to make further gains in reducing problem alcohol behavior in communities.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment WayToServe Plus In-service Component and related programs for preventing drunk driving?

Research shows that Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training, like WayToServe, can help prevent over-serving alcohol and reduce drunk driving. Web-based RBS training, such as WayToServe, may offer advantages by providing consistent instruction and implementation, leading to higher rates of alcohol service refusal compared to traditional live training. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Responsible Alcohol Service Training safe for participants?

The available research on Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training, including WayToServe programs, focuses on its effectiveness in reducing alcohol-related harm and improving server practices, but does not report any safety concerns for participants undergoing the training. ^{1 4 5 6 7}

How is the WayToServe Plus treatment different from other treatments for preventing drunk driving?

WayToServe Plus is unique because it is a web-based training program for alcohol servers, which ensures consistent quality and implementation compared to traditional live training sessions that can vary widely in effectiveness. ^{1 4 5 6 8}

Research Team

David Buller, PhD

Principal Investigator

Klein Buendel, Inc.

Gill Woodall, PhD

Principal Investigator

Klein Buendel, Inc.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals aged 19 or older who manage or work at licensed premises as alcohol servers, such as waitresses, waiters, or bartenders. They must have completed the WayToServe responsible beverage service training and be proficient in English. Those with a household member already in the project or under 19 cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I have completed the WayToServe responsible beverage service training.

Consent to participate

Be proficient in English

Exclusion Criteria

Have a family/household member already participating in project

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Development and Prototype Testing

Development of in-service professional development content and prototype testing with focus groups and field pilot trial

6 months

Focus groups and field pilot trial

Randomized Trial

Conducting a randomized trial with 160 alcohol premises to evaluate the effectiveness of WayToServe Plus

12 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in refusal rate of alcohol service to apparently-intoxicated patrons

12 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• WayToServe Plus In-service Component
• WayToServe Training Only

Trial Overview The study is testing an additional professional development component to the existing online WayToServe RBS training. The goal is to enhance its effectiveness in reducing issues like driving while intoxicated by improving server professionalism and prevention efforts.

Participant Groups

Group I: WayToServe Training Only Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Control group of servers who do not participate in Facebook group and receive WayToServe Training only.

Group II: WayToServe Plus In-service Component Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Intervention group of servers to participate in Facebook group.

WayToServe Plus In-service Component is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as WayToServe for:

• Responsible Beverage Service Training

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Klein Buendel, Inc.

Lead Sponsor

Trials

41

Recruited

20,000+

Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation

Collaborator

Trials

28

Recruited

34,200+

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Collaborator

Trials

865

Recruited

1,091,000+

Findings from Research

A new Web-based Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training program was developed with input from focus groups and usability testing, involving 112 professional alcohol servers, and showed significant improvements in servers' knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy regarding alcohol service.

While the study did not directly measure changes in server behaviors, the positive feedback and knowledge gains suggest that online RBS training can be an effective alternative to traditional workshops, filling a gap in research on this training method.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and process evaluation of a Web-based responsible beverage service training program. Danaher, BG., Dresser, J., Shaw, T., et al.[2022]

The Down Your Drink (DYD) website effectively attracted individuals seeking help to reduce their drinking, highlighting a significant demand for online interventions among those who perceive their drinking as problematic.

Participants valued the privacy of online help, as it allowed them to seek assistance without the stigma associated with in-person services, indicating a gap in available resources for hazardous and harmful drinkers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Negotiating the 'grey area between normal social drinking and being a smelly tramp': a qualitative study of people searching for help online to reduce their drinking. Khadjesari, Z., Stevenson, F., Godfrey, C., et al.[2022]

The redevelopment of the Down Your Drink (DYD) website for hazardous drinkers involved a thorough process that included literature reviews, user feedback, and developmental tasks, ensuring the intervention is well-informed and user-centered.

The new website structure emphasizes user choice and clear organization, which can enhance user engagement and effectiveness, making it a valuable model for developing other online health interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a psychologically enhanced interactive online intervention for hazardous drinking. Linke, S., McCambridge, J., Khadjesari, Z., et al.[2022]

Web-based Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training (WayToServe®) resulted in significantly higher rates of alcohol service refusals to intoxicated patrons immediately after training and one year later compared to traditional live training methods, indicating its effectiveness in preventing over-service of alcohol.

The study involved 309 alcohol-serving establishments in New Mexico, and the results suggest that online training can provide a consistent and effective approach to RBS, potentially reaching a larger audience and improving public safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Results of a Randomized Trial of Web-Based Retail Onsite Responsible Beverage Service Training: WayToServe. Woodall, WG., Starling, R., Saltz, RF., et al.[2019]

A community-wide Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) program was implemented across three sites in California and South Carolina, showing high support from both the public and the hospitality industry for its principles.

Despite the positive attitudes towards RBS, early evaluations indicate that while prevention policies are emerging in bars and restaurants, there is currently no measurable effect on servers actively intervening with heavy drinkers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A community-wide Responsible Beverage Service program in three communities: early findings. Saltz, RF., Stanghetta, P.[2023]

Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) programs in bars and restaurants can significantly reduce alcohol-related deaths and injuries, including those from impaired driving.

The article reviews various evaluation methods for RBS programs, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each, and discusses how the Prevention Research Center's Community Trials Project design provides valuable insights into effective RBS strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating specific community structural changes. Examples from the assessment of responsible beverage service. Saltz, RF.[2017]

The responsible service training program led to a significant reduction in the number of patrons rated as extremely drunk and a decrease in patrons with blood alcohol levels above 0.08 at intervention sites compared to control sites, based on evaluations of 872 patrons.

Despite some positive outcomes, the program did not significantly reduce patrons with blood alcohol levels above 0.15 or drink driving offenses, indicating that effective implementation and management support are crucial for the success of such interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can training bar staff in responsible serving practices reduce alcohol-related harm? Lang, E., Stockwell, T., Rydon, P., et al.[2005]

Training programs for employees and managers in establishments that serve alcohol are currently not standardized, leading to significant variations in content and effectiveness across the 22 programs assessed.

Most training programs focus on waitstaff and bartenders, with a lack of targeted programs for owners and managers, highlighting the need for national standards to improve the quality and consistency of alcohol service training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Qualitative assessment of training programs for alcohol servers and establishment managers. Toomey, TL., Kilian, GR., Gehan, JP., et al.[2018]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and process evaluation of a Web-based responsible beverage service training program. [2022]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Negotiating the 'grey area between normal social drinking and being a smelly tramp': a qualitative study of people searching for help online to reduce their drinking. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a psychologically enhanced interactive online intervention for hazardous drinking. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Results of a Randomized Trial of Web-Based Retail Onsite Responsible Beverage Service Training: WayToServe. [2019]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A community-wide Responsible Beverage Service program in three communities: early findings. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating specific community structural changes. Examples from the assessment of responsible beverage service. [2017]

7. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can training bar staff in responsible serving practices reduce alcohol-related harm? [2005]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Qualitative assessment of training programs for alcohol servers and establishment managers. [2018]