NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Under a new state law, service industry workers like bartenders are required to undergo more in-depth and frequent training. Advocates for survivors of sexual assault are celebrating the new legislation.
The bill, passed earlier this year, went into effect Wednesday and requires anyone serving alcohol to renew their license every two years instead five. Not only do they have to renew their licenses more frequently, but they must now also take a course to understand the role of alcohol in sexual assault and harassment.
The course has to be at least three-and-a-half hours ling and must also include training on best practices for ensuring patron safety and bystander intervention, recognizing the role of drugs in assault and strategies to prevent drugging in establishments. The trainings are also legally required to “educate servers on recognizing and reporting signs of human trafficking.”
The Sexual Assault Center (SAC) in Nashville worked with lawmakers to craft the legislation. Tia Freeman, director of communications for the SAC, called it a positive move.
“This is a very good step in the right direction towards supporting not just local Nashvillians, but also the tourists that seem to come to Nashville,” Freeman said. “We really want them to have a good time and be safe and supported while they’re enjoying themselves here.”
The law will be implemented by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC). Any place that will have workers who complete this training will have to show proof of the curriculum within one year of applying for a server permit.
“We’ve been working with the training programs to make sure that supplemental material has been created, has been added to their programs and has been deployed,” ABC assistant director Tabatha Blackwell said.
Rob Mortensen with the Broadway Entertainment Association said the next best step would be to have the state require training every year.
“For us, it’s keeping people safe [and] having a good time because it’s a business,” Mortensen said. “At the end of the day, we want folks to want to come back to Nashville.”
