Individuals who serve alcoholic beverages to the public are invited to participate in one of three free training sessions being offered in New Hanover County over the next week, according to a news release.

The courses, which focus on avoiding problems of selling alcohol to underage people, will be conducted by N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) personnel in collaboration with the state and local Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Cape Fear Coalition for a Drug-Free Tomorrow.

“The server industry turns over pretty quick,” Katherine Haney, a spokeswoman for the N.C. ABC Commission, said Tuesday. “We want always to have information fresh for them so the permit holder doesn’t get fined, and keeps their license in good order. And the local coalition, who are volunteers in the community, want to work on this to keep underage drinking down.”

Sessions are scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, and again May 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Carolina Beach Council Chambers, 1121 N. Lake Park Blvd.
 
Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Ziggy’s By the Sea, 208 Market St.

Topics to be addressed, according to the release, are penalties for selling alcohol to underage or intoxicated people, when to ask for an ID and how to check it, how to recognize when someone has had too much to drink and what to do in a problem situation.

“In addition to promoting responsible business practices regarding the sale of alcohol, the trainings align with the goal of the commission’s Talk It Out Campaign, a new statewide initiative targeting underage drinking in North Carolina,” the release stated.

Representatives from the New Hanover County District Attorney’s office, the Cape Fear Coalition, the Wilmington Police Department, the NHC Sheriff’s Office and the NHC ABC Board will be present at the training sessions, according to the release.