WayToServe Plus: In-service Professional Development Component to Improve Responsible Alcohol Service

Among the interventions targeting driving while intoxicated (DWI) by alcohol, Responsible Beverage Service
(RBS) training of alcohol servers has shown promise. RBS training is currently required or incentivized by 36 U.S.
states and California will require it starting in 2022. Our team has shown that an online RBS training, named
WayToServe®, was effective in two randomized trials. These results filled a gap in the literature on RBS training
that is limited by the lack of randomized trials, poor measurement of training implementation, and almost
exclusive focus on live training when online training predominates. The goal of this SBIR Fast-track research is
to develop and test an in-service professional development component for alcohol servers trained by
WayToServe to improve its effectiveness. It is intended to motivate servers to implement the RBS skills in the
face of common barriers, provide support for RBS actions from a “community” of alcohol servers, and prevent
natural degradation of skills over time. Rationale for this product is provided by past research showing that
training, certification, and in-service contact improves professionalism and efficacy of community prevention
interventions. Scientific premise is provided by the positive results of our trials on the WayToServe® training.
The in-service component will be delivered through the WayToServe Facebook page that currently is “followed”
by over 20,000 alcohol servers trained by WayToServe. The specific aims of Phase I are to: 1) develop content of
in-service professional development on RBS skills with a) premises owners/ managers interviews and b) alcohol
servers in New Mexico and Washington State trained by the WayToServe online RBS training through focus
group discussions; 2) produce a prototype WayToServe Plus in-service professional development component in
flowcharts and an initial library of Facebook posts, including text, graphics, and interactive elements and
evaluate it for acceptability, usability, and engagement in focus groups and field pilot trial with alcohol servers in
New Mexico and Washington State trained by the WayToServe online RBS training, and 3) determine feasibility
of WayToServe Plus in-service professional development component and develop evaluation plans for Phase II
research. Milestones will be an EAB-approved Phase I research plans and development of the content outline and
WayToServe Plus prototype, evaluation of WayToServe Plus prototype, and feasibility assessment of the
WayToServe Plus in-service professional development component. Phase II specific aims will achieve the
milestones of full production of WayToServe Plus and a randomized trial testing its effectiveness by: 4)
producing the full WayToServe Plus in-service professional development component and 5) conducting a
randomized trial with 160 alcohol premises in New Mexico and Washington State evaluating effectiveness of
WayToServe Plus on refusal of sales to PiP (primary outcome). The SBIR research is innovative as WayToServe
Plus will be the first continuous in-service professional development for RBS and will increase the WayToServe
training's effectiveness and commercial advantage with alcohol servers and corporate clients.