Town police, the state, and a major beer/wine distributor are sponsoring a seminar for workers who sell/serve alcohol to the public on preventing underage drinking.christopher.vanghele@newtown-ct.gov.

Police Lieutenant Christopher Vanghele said week the free session scheduled for Wednesday, March 16, will bring together town police, the Connecticut Liquor Control Commission, and Dichello Distributors, Inc, of Orange to provide information to alcohol sellers/servers on preventing alcohol sales to people under age 21.

The two-hour session will include discussion on the use of counterfeit identification cards by underage people to buy alcohol, including how to best to recognize a counterfeit ID cards.

The session also will include an overview of the TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures Seminar) program. Also, an overview of state liquor laws and liquor law compliance issues also will be discussed.

The seminar will be held from 9 to 11 am at Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.

Alcohol permittees who want to have their staff attend the session are asked to contact the lieutenant as soon as possible at 203-270-4245 or

The TIPS program is intended to curb underage drinking, overconsumption, and drunk driving. The program provides workers with information on how to recognize potential alcohol-related problems and how to safely intervene to prevent alcohol-related tragedies, according to police.

Factors that affect a person's becoming intoxicated include their physical size, gender, the rate of alcohol consumption, the strength of drinks, the use of drugs, and the consumption of food.

Behavioral cues that signal intoxication include the lowering of inhibitions, impaired judgment, certain physical reactions, and impaired physical coordination.

The TIPS training results in improved customer service, reduced exposure to liability and fines, and potentially lower insurance costs for businesses that sell alcohol, according to police.

In a recent letter to local alcohol permittees, Police Chief James Viadero urged them to have their staff attend the session for the benefits that the training will provide.

Lt Vanghele said that locally alcohol is sold at 39 locations by 38 permittees. Such alcohol sales occur at bars, cafes, restaurants, grocery stores, package stores, clubs, and a vineyard.

In 2015, town police made three referrals to state liquor officials for alcohol sales to underage persons, he said. Besides acting on complaints, police occasionally conduct special enforcement projects to find underage alcohol sales at package stores.

The use of high-quality counterfeit ID cards by underage persons to buy alcohol sometimes occurs, he noted.

In 2103, town police and others sponsored a similar alcohol education seminar for people who sell/serve alcohol to the public.

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