The annual Cheers Awards for Beverage Excellence were presented at the Cheers Beverage Conference in Miami on Jan. 22, 2008. At this prestigious industry conference, Applebee’s was given the award for Best Chain Responsible Beverage Alcohol Service Training Program.

Applebee’s trains its associates using ServSafe Alcohol educational materials. The company’s multifaceted training program includes an Applebee’s-specific introduction to responsible alcohol service; educational assignments and worksheets from the ServSafe Alcohol curriculum; extensive on-the-job training; manager or trainer coaching and feedback; and a customized DVD. The scenes in the DVD, which depict Applebee’s servers and managers, allow trainees to apply the ServSafe Alcohol curriculum to real-life scenarios. The DVD content also is available in an e-learning module.

Applebee’s managers—who undergo the same training as associates—complete the ServSafe Alcohol certification program and exam.

“The Cheers Awards are national accolades widely recognized throughout the industry, so we are proud to congratulate Applebee’s,” said Sam Stanovich, director, ServSafe Alcohol, National Restaurant Association Solutions. “Applebee’s has shown a remarkable dedication to training its staff in the vital area of responsible alcohol service. They have established a standard to which all companies should aspire.”

Applebee’s, like all the winners of the 2008 Cheers Awards for Beverage Excellence, is featured in the January/February issue of Cheers magazine. Rich Shuey, senior manager of beverage operations for Applebee’s, told the magazine that responsible alcohol service training is integrated into all aspects of employee training. Shuey commented that “Applebee’s servers hear about responsible service every day.”

Part of the training program’s success is attributable to its customized components. Customized materials can be a key tool for learner retention. In addition to receiving comprehensive information that is applicable to any operation serving alcohol, Applebee’s staff members also train with materials that are unique to the company. Whether the learner is doing a reading assignment in the classroom or getting one-on-one feedback on the job, the foundation for the Applebee’s program is the ServSafe Alcohol curriculum.

“The training program at Applebee’s has been ideal,” said Julia Kanouse, vice president, ServSafe Alcohol and Market Solutions, National Restaurant Association Solutions. “It’s a great honor to receive the Best Chain Responsible Beverage Alcohol Service Training Program award, and Applebee’s certainly deserves it. Participants in the program receive crucial training based on the ServSafe Alcohol curriculum, and then their classroom experience is reinforced with on-the-job training. The video component also helps learners apply ServSafe concepts to the work environment.”