SABMiller scholars scheme launches in Northampton

SABMiller and the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) today launch the SABMiller Scholarship Programme in Northampton as part of SABMiller’s commitment to help small licensed businesses in 20 Local Alcohol Action Areas (LAAAs) across England train their staff in enforcing the 2003 Licensing Act.

At an event, attended by Northampton South MP, Brian Binley, and Sally Keeble, 2015 candidate for Northampton North and Patron of the Scholars Programme, 30 staff from local licensed premises in Northampton underwent training which will provide them with an Ofqual-accredited Level 1 Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR).   They were joined by members of the Northamptonshire Licensing Committee, the Public Health Team, Police Officers and a representative from the Home Office.

The programme, run by the BII, is designed to give staff working on licensed premises an understanding of the tightly-regulated legal framework in which they operate under the 2003 Licensing Act. It also aims to give them the confidence to deal with an aggrieved customer who is unhappy at being refused alcohol because they are either drunk or underage.  

SABMiller launched the Scholars Programme in 2009 and since then has trained over 6,000 scholars.  This number will rise to 10,000 by the end of 2016, fulfilling SABMiller’s individual pledge to the Department of Health under the Public Health Responsibility Deal.  Jane Ellison MP, the Public Health Minister, said: “I am pleased to see SABMiller investing in this scheme to give bar staff across the country the confidence to make sure that alcoholic drinks are bought and sold responsibly. Investing in good staff training is an important part of encouraging responsible drinking.” 

Patron for the SABMiller Scholars Programme, Sally Keeble commented: “I agreed to be patron of this scheme because it’s a really good example of how Government and industry can work together to tackle alcohol misuse. The Scholars’ Programme is a fantastic way of working toward a more responsible drinking society and I’m delighted to give it my full support.”