Ringing in the New Year is traditionally marked by lively gatherings with family and friends and topped off by a midnight celebration.

New Year’s Eve is a busy time for alcoholic beverage vendors, and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco reminds vendors to sell and serve alcohol responsibly during the holiday.

Vendors are reminded to check identification to ensure the purchasers are 21 years old or older. Clerks and servers should be on the lookout for fake identification.

Servers should monitor patrons’ alcohol intake to combat the consequences of over-drinking.

Vendors should also be prepared to call a taxi or help a patron find alternate transportation in the event the patron is incapable of driving.

Increased vendor responsibility can lead to a decrease in sales to underage persons, DUIs and DUI-related fatalities and more successful compliance with state laws.

The mission of ABT is to keep alcohol and tobacco out of the hands of underage persons, to ensure that licensed establishments are in compliance with the laws and rules regulating the industry in Florida, and to collect taxes and fees related to these industries.

The department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. The department licenses more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from real estate agents, veterinarians, and accountants to contractors and cosmetologists.

For more information, please visit the links listed below.