Below is my journalism assignment from the Manitoba Moose game we went to last Tuesday. I enjoyed "researching" and writing it. (The names have been changed to protect the intoxicated). I hope you enjoy reading it.
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“There's the green zone, the yellow zone and the red zone," said Brett Larson during the first intermission of the AHL game Tuesday night.
Larson, a supervisor at Moxie's Classic Grill at the MTS Centre, is not breaking down the offensive zone in the game between the Manitoba Moose and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He is reciting part of the save hospitality policy that Moxie's staff must adhere to. The Manitoba Tourism Education Council's website (http://www.mtec.mb.ca/) explains that the Serving It Safe, Responsible Service and Safety Program provides information and training "to help staff and patrons stay safe in licensed establishments" in the Manitoba. The colour coded zones listed by Larson represent classification levels of customer intoxication.
“People who come in after the Moose game are usually in the yellow zone. They’ve had a couple drinks, they are not quite in that ridiculous state yet (the red zone), but a couple more and they could get there,” said Larson, a Winnipeg native.
“There is always the worry of the (Manitoba Liquor Control Commission) coming in to make sure we’re not over-serving our customers,” said Larson, 27. This could result in fines or liquor license suspension.
At the end of the second intermission Kaleigh Sill is sitting at the Moxie’s bar, a bottle of white wine on ice in front of her. She visits Moxie’s after most home games with her boyfriend. Sill says she has never experienced any problems with people being over-served. “Everyone is here to have a good time. To have fun and get a little rowdy.”
www.servingitsafe.ca explains that the goal of the program is to reduce alcohol-related problems. “The main concerns are impaired driving and alcohol-related lawsuits against both servers and licensed premises.”
“There is always that issue of people drinking and driving,” said Larson. He often asks customers, after they have had five or six drinks, how they are getting home, because if they are pulled over or crash, “we’re pretty much liable.”
Near the end of the game Mike Timmins is in Moxie’s, sporting a Winnipeg Jets jersey and drinking a beer. Timmins, a corrections officer, usually comes to Moxie’s between periods with friends for a quick drink because the beer is cheaper than at the MTS Centre. “The game tonight was quite awful so we stayed here for the third,” said Timmins.
At the end of the third period the final score is 2-0 for the Penguins. But at Moxie’s the fourth period is underway, Timmins is going strong and threatening to break into the red zone. “Six beers tonight. And counting.”
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Soupy out.
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