RSA – Why it is so important

Why RSA Courses and RSA Certificates Exist

Even with the enforcement of the Responsible Service of Alcohol, still many underage young individuals don’t understand why this law was legalized and became mandatory.  PerhapsRSA there is no need to overstress the reasons why everyone dealing with alcohol from the hospitality management down to the staff must receive an RSA course and certificate.  Everyone is supposed to take responsibility for their regular customers and visitors and show concern for the health and well-being not only of their patrons but of all the people surrounding them.

                  Before the Responsible Service of Alcohol became mandatory, there were a lot of licensed premises such as bars, pubs and restaurants that continued to serve alcohol to their patrons, even if they seem to notice that they might have reached a level of intoxication.  Because of this, a lot of violent issues and problems occurred.  Violence between patrons and regular customers, damage to surrounding premises and properties, patrons were driving intoxicated causing accidents.

                  For many years, excessive alcohol intake caused severe threats to the safety of individuals in the community in many countries.   Until now, this problem continues to grow and what’s worse is that the younger generations are slowly becoming involved in this epidemic issue.  This led Australia to mandate every individual in the alcohol industry to receive an RSA course and RSA certificate.

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The Severe Effects of Alcohol on Health

As a person working around alcohol, you are required to understand all the effects that alcohol brings in the human body, and how it can cause severe problems to patrons once they have reached their level of intoxication. Once the staff, employee or worker is educated on the signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication, he or she can then make knowledge-based judgments if he or she will continue to serve alcohol to a patron or not.  Along with this knowledge is the skill on how to refuse and control a patron from consuming too much alcohol since most of the time, failure to refuse service to an intoxicated person leads to a violent situation.    This skill can also help him or her in different situations and instances that could possibly occur anytime or anywhere.

Recently, a lot of underage youth are slowly becoming consumers of alcohol as well.  Alcohol can cause severe detrimental irreversible effects on the health of these young individuals.  It is the responsibility and the task of RSA certified staff to recognize minors and to ask for their proof of age in order to prevent them from illegally consuming alcohol.  If the people working in licensed premises underwent a full RSA course, then perhaps, they would have the skill to identify minors even if they don’t need to ask for any proof of age.

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What Are The Requirements for Licensed Premises?

                  Although the requirements that hospitality staff should possess can be bothersome, they are still necessary and important in order to create a venue and environment that is safe, comfortable and entertaining not only for them but for their customers too.

Most states and territories in Australia require the following persons to obtain an RSA course:

  • All individuals involved in the sale, supply, distribution and service of alcohol
  • Licensees
  • Approved managers and supervisors
  • Volunteers with liquor service responsibilities

Every state in Australia has their own RSA course; some even offer a Nationally Accredited Course.

It is a government requirement that all licensed establishments and RSA certifies staff and employees understand the devastating health effects of alcohol and why a regulation like an RSA was put in place.  Although RSA may seem a very simple and short course, still it is one great step that could educate and train individuals regarding alcohol and possibly lessen its damaging effects to the people in Australia. If you want to find out more about the RSA Requirements in your state then click through to our RSA home page where you can choose the city of state you want to work in. If you want to do your RSA Course Online then checkout that page as well.

About Jaimee

Jaimee has spent several years in the hospitality industry, managing licensed venues on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. She knows first hand the importance of staff and managers completing their RSA certificate. Please feel free to ask her any questions you have about working in the hospitality industry or about completing your RSA certification in any state within Australia.