State Liquor Administrators Announce 2008 Best Practices Awards

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Conference of State Liquor Administrators (NCSLA) presented awards to five of their members at the 74^th annual conference in Chicago this week. Each year the NCSLA Best Practices Awards recognizes and shares those programs and practices that are innovative, pioneering and deemed to be of value to other states and the regulated industry.

“We congratulate this year’s NCSLA Best Practices Award winners,” said John Cordrey, president, National Conference of State Liquor Administrators. “NCSLA is dedicated to providing an open forum where its members can deliberate and learn about issues relating to the alcoholic beverage industry. Our awards program continues to be an effective and meaningful way to advance our purpose as well as identify and reward those that exemplify the best amongst us.”

Since the awards program inception in 2005, participation has grown and this year the program was expanded to include associate members. There were 27 total nominations from both state agencies and industry leaders in the categories of Health and Safety, Mentoring, and Social Responsibility. A diversified committee of 13 regulators and industry members evaluated submissions using the following criteria: value to other states; relevance and scope of subject to states and industry; new innovation or new approaches; efficiency in terms of time, money and resources; and harmonization.

The 2008 Best Practices Award winners are as follows:

Social Responsibility

• Responsible Vendor Program (RVP) – The Oregon Liquor Control Commission developed the RVP to reward responsible licensees who take positive steps in preventing the sale and service of alcohol to minors. To apply for the program, vendors must go through rigorous training and educational classes on how to prevent alcohol sales to minors.
• Voluntary Principles on Alcohol Advertising – Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. was recognized this year for its establishment of enhanced advertising and marketing placement practices designed to reduce the exposure of persons under 21 to promotional materials for Beam Global’s products.

Health & Safety

• Alcohol and Aging Awareness Group (AAAG) – The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control established the AAAG to focus on the risks of alcohol abuse and misuse among older adults, identify available resources and advocate for responsible usage.
• National Center for DWI Courts – Partnering with the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. created this national center to provide long-term, ongoing accountability and rehabilitation to repeat drunk driving offenders in addition to their conviction.

Mentoring

• Student-Athletes Outreach & Mentoring Program – The Hawaii County Department of Liquor Control organized and implemented workshops where over 70 high school student-athletes spoke to 5^th graders about the dangers of underage drinking. These workshops have grown over the past three years and topics such as leadership, communications and presentation skills and teamwork were also discussed.
• The National Association of Licensing Compliance Professionals (NALCP) is a newly formed non-profit organization comprised of in-house hospitality licensing and compliance professionals specializing in on-site liquor licensing and regulation. The NALCP provides support, networking, development and grass roots efforts on behalf of the hospitality industry’s in-house licensing professionals.

More information can be found at www.ncsla.org.

About National Conference of State Liquor Administrators:

Founded June 19, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois, the purposes of NCSLA are to promote the enactment of the most effective and equitable types of state alcoholic beverage control laws; devise and promote the use of methods which provide the best enforcement of the particular alcoholic beverage control laws in each state; work for the adoption of uniform laws insofar they may be practicable; promote harmony with the federal government in its administration of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act; and strive for harmony in the administration of the alcoholic beverage control laws among the several states.