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Arlington County Police Department Recognizes Two Local Restaurant Security Guards During 5th Annual Fake ID Awards

(Arlington, Va.) – The Arlington Restaurant Initiative (ARI) recognized two security guards and management of two restaurants during the Arlington County Police Department’s (ACPD) fifth annual Fake ID Awards on the evening of February 26, 2021. The recipients were recognized for their excellence in detecting false identifications and preventing underage drinking.

In addition to the recognition by ARI, Responsibility.org and The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) presented gift cards to these restaurants for being strong partners for their overall commitment to reducing underage drinking.

“COVID-19 has brought challenging times to our restaurant community, but safety remained a top priority for businesses who are members of the ARI as evidenced by the fake IDs collected and safety maintained,” said Samantha Brien, ACPD's new Restaurant and Nightlife Liaison. “I commend our 2020 award winners for their dedication to safe service.”

“It is exciting to honor the 2020 ARI Fake ID award winners and to bring attention to this successful public-private partnership,” said Brandy Axdahl, Senior Vice President for Responsibility Initiatives at Responsibility.org. “We believe that ARI is a model for other communities who want to create an inclusive and collaborative effort to improve safety as well as consumer experiences.”

“These dedicated employees had tremendous challenges to overcome in 2020 and we commend them for making underage drinking prevention a top priority in the midst of a global pandemic,” said Kurt Erickson, President and CEO of WRAP.

“We are excited to be recognized for the fake ID awards,” said Joe McDevitt, General Manager of Don Tito’s. “We want to make sure that everyone in our establishment is allowed to have a great time both responsibly and legally.”

Since 2017, ARI has been a partnership between the hospitality industry, ACPD and county agencies to increase citizen safety and provide restaurant owners and staff with resources to maximize safety and viability. ARI raises restaurant standards on alcohol service, streamlines county processes and maintains Arlington County as a safe nightlife and entertainment destination. ARI accredited restaurants have demonstrated a commitment to safety for patrons and the community. New ARI staff include Sergeant Mohammed Tabibi, Business Outreach Sergeant; Samantha Brien, ARI Restaurant and Nightlife Liaison; and Corporal Tatiana Hernandez, Business Outreach Officer.

Responsibility.org is a national not-for-profit organization headquartered in Arlington, Va., and funded for 30 years by America’s leading distillers. Its mission is to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking and promote responsible drinking.

The Washington Regional Alcohol Program is a public-private partnership working to prevent drunk driving and underage drinking in the Washington, D.C., region.

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About Arlington Restaurant Initiative

In an effort to increase safety for citizens and to provide restaurant owners and staff, as well as special event staff, with resources to maximize their safety and viability, the Arlington County Police Department has partnered with County agencies to establish the Arlington Restaurant Initiative (ARI). The goal of ARI is to raise the standards of restaurants that serve alcohol, streamline processes within the County Government and maintain Arlington County as a safe destination for nightlife and entertainment.

About Responsibility.org:

Responsibility.org is a national not-for-profit that aims to eliminate drunk driving and work with others to end all impaired driving, eliminate underage drinking, and empowers adults to make a lifetime of responsible alcohol choices as part of a balanced lifestyle. Responsibility.org is funded by the following distillers: Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.; Beam Suntory Inc.; Brown-Forman; DIAGEO; Edrington, Mast-Jägermeister US, Inc.; Moët Hennessy USA; Ole Smoky, LLC; and Pernod Ricard USA. For nearly 30 years, Responsibility.org has transformed countless lives through programs that bring individuals, families, and communities together to inspire a lifetime of responsible alcohol choices. To learn more, please visit Responsibility.org.

About Washington Regional Alcohol Program

Founded in 1982, the Maryland nonprofit [501(c)(3)] Washington Regional Alcohol Program is a coalition of diverse interests using effective education, innovative programs, and targeted advocacy to end alcohol-impaired driving and underage drinking. Through public education, innovative health education programs and advocacy, WRAP is credited with keeping the metro-Washington area’s alcohol-related traffic deaths historically lower than the national average. WRAP, however, may best be known to area residents via the organization’s popular free safe ride service to prevent drunk driving, SoberRide®. For more information, visit WRAP’s web site www.wrap.org.

 

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