Ten local bars, lounges and pubs awarded Best-Bar-None accreditation

“The Manchester police came up with the Best-Bar-None program, as a way for the partners to work together and make a safer drinking environment and atmosphere for the patrons.

“Alberta actually connected with the UK in 2009 to bring the program across the Atlantic, we were the first jurisdiction to do that, and we are finding the same success here in Alberta, where we’re having police, municipalities, the liquor commission and the industry working together to provide a safer environment in communities for a night out.”

Baich says that after Alberta got onboard, Toronto and Ottawa also started the Best-Bar-None program, and Newfoundland has also been in contact with AGLC, seeking help with bringing the program to that province.

In terms of the actual accreditation, Baich says it starts with the development of policies, which lay out consistent reactions to situations that might occur in drinking establishments. There are also ‘best practices’ that stipulate the business’s environment is safe for patrons.

“Even little things like having clocks on the walls to ensure people know what time it is so they are pacing themselves – it has about 101 things on the check list in a bunch of different categories – and some of the check list is mandatory to be accredited, while some things are bonus items that can push establishments over the edge when it comes to being a designated bar.”

He gave examples such as having a scanning system or security cameras, which is not mandatory, but are bonus criteria.

To acquire accreditation under the Best-Bar-None protocol, independent assessors who are not part of the AGLC regulatory division will attend the establishments and work with their staff to go through the check list and ensure all the boxes have been ticked.

Baich says they have already seen two-fold positive outcomes.

“Number one, we’re noticing that by raising the standards of the bar, it’s raising the level of service and safety. But the other thing, which is really important, is the collaborative effort of the police, the city, the industry and the AGLC working together, we’re noticing it’s breaking down barriers, where before there may have been some conflict or an attitude of we’re against each other, now we’re seeing that safety and hospitality as we’re all pulling from the same rope and we want people to have a good time but, we want them to be safe and have a good night out.”

The collaborative effort for Best-Bar-None in Lethbridge includes not only the police and fire department – who each had a representative to hand out the local accreditations – but Dr. Vivien Suttorp, a Medical Officer of Health for the Alberta Health Services South Zone was also on hand.

Baich noted the inclusion of a medical professional was something that was not common amongst the other communities involved.

“Lethbridge is the first to have health on board, which is really neat because every community has a little different make-up, as some communities have tourism involved or like the health element in Lethbridge.”

“We’re also noticing the relationships, because usually when you hear something about a bar, it’s a bad story, like it’s something bad happened, but with Best-Bar-None and all the partnerships, we’re seeing good stories as businesses want to take care of their customers, take care of their patrons. We’re hearing stories where staff are sitting out with a patron waiting for a cab, we’re seeing situations where staff are noticing someone is coming into an establishment when they’ve already had too much to drink, and not letting them have anymore alcohol and calling a cab for that person and we’re seeing a much higher level of service.”

Overall, Baich says the accreditation is creating a different culture.

“Instead of individual bars all working independently, they’re in the community together to create a community of hospitality.”

Baich says the hope is that the Best-Bar-None program becomes a long term, culture shift. He says if bars are volunteering to come into the program and are raising the standard, then the questions start to come out asking other bars, ‘Why aren’t you part of this? Why aren’t you caring about your customers and adding to this culture?’

“We hope that by raising the standards of bars, it’s going to put pressure on everyone to be a part of this culture of saying let’s make sure people are having a really good time, but make sure that they are safe, communities are vibrant and we’re reducing some of the harms that can occur when people are over consuming and not doing it the right way.”

Lethbridge’s newly accredited BBN locations are:

— Casino Lethbridge
— Coulee Brew Company
— Honker’s Pub and Eatery
— Kingsmen Ale House
— Pop’s Taphouse South
— Pop’s Taphouse North
— Pop’s Taphouse West
— The Zoo – University of Lethbridge
— Mojo’s Pub and Grill
— Hudsons Canada’s Pub

More information can be found at Best-Bar-None and Best-Bar-None Accreditation

by Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter)

Ten local bars, lounges and pubs awarded Best-Bar-None accreditation

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