title: Field trial of alcohol-server training for prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An alcohol-server training program to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome was developed, implemented, and evaluated in a comparison study of public drinking establishments in New Mexico and Oregon.
  
  
  METHODS
  The management and serving staffs of 148 establishments licensed for on-premise alcohol sales in the two states studied were trained to discourage alcohol consumption by pregnant customers. Pre- and post-tests of server responses to pregnant-appearing "pseudo-patron" actors ordering alcohol in experimental (n = 148) and comparison (n = 183) establishments were a key method of evaluating the efficacy of this intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within-group chi-square analyses compared rates of service refusal at baseline with 1-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up points for both the trained (experimental) and the comparison establishments. No differences were found between experimental and comparison establishments at baseline at either site, but significant differences were found for New Mexico at each posttraining measurement point. In Oregon, the refusal rate at baseline increased from 1.5% at baseline to 8.3% at 1 month, which only approached significance. In New Mexico, at baseline the refusal rate was 8.6%, and it rose to 39.2% at 6 months (p < .0001, odds ratio = 6.83) and remained high at 28.2% at 12 months (p < .001, odds ratio = 4.15). No similarly significant gains were recorded at control establishments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplemental responsible beverage service training for alcohol servers to aid in the prevention of fetal alcohol exposure can be effective in reducing the serving of alcohol to visibly pregnant women, with robust effects continuing over the subsequent year in the New Mexico establishments.
authors.affiliation: Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions, University of New Mexico, 2650 Yale Boulevard SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106, USA.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dresser
authors.forename: Randall
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Starling
authors.forename: W Gill
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Woodall
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stanghetta
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: May
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D009516:New Mexico; D009922:Oregon; D011247:Pregnancy; D012147:Restaurants / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors