Stephanie McDonald
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 3, 2007

NUNAVUT - Wait staff in Nunavut's licenced establishments should have to take alcohol server training, the Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board has recommended to the government.

The issue of mandatory training was raised when Iqaluit's newest hotel, the Nova Inn, applied for several liquor licences on Aug. 23, 2007.

Jennifer McLennan, the Frobisher Inn's food and beverage manager, agrees that all servers should be required to have alcohol training. - Stephanie McDonald/NNSL photo

As part of its application, Nova Inn committed itself to provide server training for all food and beverage employees, a move that the chair of the liquor board, David Wilman, said is commendable, and one that will improve the hotel's operations.

Wilman is now urging that each establishment that holds a liquor license follow suit. The change in the Liquor Act would bring it in line with the reality of Nunavut today, he said.

"We're basically saying, don't just take any Joe off the street and think he can be an effective and efficient bartender or manager of a licenced establishment. Make sure he knows what he is doing through some kind of formal training," Wilman said.

A recognized online course such as Smart Serve teaches servers how to identify someone who is intoxicated and how to handle him or her, how to get them out of the building safely, and how to deal with someone who may be underage.

"We try to work with the licence holders ... once we give them the privilege of a licence, they also take on the responsibility for the safe and legal use of alcohol in Nunavut," Wilman explained.

Jennifer McLennan, food and beverage manager at the Frobisher Inn in Iqaluit, said she supports the idea.

"Servers are on the front line. They need to be aware of what responsible service is," said McLennan.

She said servers must know when to say no to a customer and not feel bad about it.

"Servers need to be able to recognize a situation before it happens. People might not feel comfortable dealing with it without training," she said.

Mandatory training would ensure that all servers are aware of Nunavut's liquor laws.

"I think it's a great idea because it will ensure that all the bars and restaurants here are on the same playing level," said Dave Dunham, the new food and beverage manager at the Nova Inn. Other provinces are doing it, and he thinks Nunavut should as well.

Dunham will be conducting a four-day training session with all of his servers before the hotel's restaurant and lounge open.

As part of its mandate, the liquor board is continually making recommendations to the GN on how the Liquor Act can be updated and improved.

The government is currently in the process of revising the act, which dates back to 1905 and was inherited from the GNWT.