MLBA launches new de-escalation program

A new program launched by the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association could prevent future confrontations about wearing a face mask.

A NEW PROGRAM LAUNCHED BY THEMICHIGAN LICENSED BEVERAGEASSOCIATION... COULD PREVENTFUTURE CONFRONTATIONS ABOUTWEARING A FACEMASK.FOX 47'S KELLAN BUDDY SPOKE TOTHE ASSOCIATION TODAY... AND HASMORE ON THEPLAN.DEALING WITH DIFFICULT CUSTOMERSIS SOMETHING BAR AND RESTAURANTOWNERS ARE USED TO.WITH GOVERNOR WHITMER'SEXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRIGMICHIGAN TO MASK UP...MLBAEXECUTIVEDIRECTOR SCOTT ELLIS TELLSME...IT'S NOW SOMETHING THEYSHOULD BE MORE PREPARED FOR."SOCIETY IS SO CHARGED ON EVERYTOPIC NOWADAYS, ESPECIALLY WITHMASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING ANDTHIS WHOLE PANDEMIC...THERE ISNO EXCUSE FOR ANY OF THIS TOESCALATE BEYOND JUST ADISCUSSION."ELLIS...WHO SPENT TWENTY YEARSWITH THE LANSING POLICEDEPARTMENT...REACHED OUT TO ACO-WORKER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TOHELP TRAIN RESTAURANT AND BARWORKERS."THE GOAL IS TO GIVE THEM THEABILITY TO HANDLE SITUATIONSVERBALLY, AND TRY TO DEESCALATEAND PREVENT ANYTHING FROMHAPPENING.

ANYONE CAN GO THROUGHTHIS TRAINING.

ALL IT TAKES ISCOMPASSIONAND LISTENING."AMERICAN FIFTH SPIRITS OWNERMIKE GARYET SAYS IT'S A SIMILARTRAINING TO WHAT HIS STAFF HASLEARNED."WE TALK WITH THE STAFF, TO MAKESURE THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY CANTO LISTEN TO THE CUSTOMER.

IFIT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE WENEED TO ASK THEM TO LEAVE, WEHAVE SOME PROTOCOLS IN PLACEFOR THAT."BOTH ELLIS AND GARYET WANT THEPUBLIC TO KNOW...THE RESTAURANTSARE JUST FOLLOWINGORDERS."PLEASE DON'T TAKE YOURPOLITICAL VIEWS AND YOURFEELINGS ABOUT MASKS OR NO MASKSOUT ON THEPERSON THAT'S CAUGHT IN THEMIDDLE.

THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOBTO PROVIDE A SERVICE SO THATEVERYONECAN HAVE A GOOD TIME.""THEIR SAFETY IS IMPORTANT TOO,THEY'RE PEOPLE.

IT'S JUST AMATTER OF HAVING RESPECT FOREACH OTHER,TAKING IT DOWN A NOTCH ANDMAKING SURE WE ALL STAYHEALTHY." ELLIS TELLS ME THEREWILL BE A SERIES OF WEBINARS TOTEACH THESE TACTICS-- THE FIRSTTWO ARE FORMLBA MEMBERS...THE REST OF THEMWILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLICIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.REPORTING IN EAST LANSING,KELLAN BUDDY, FOX 47 NEWS.TODAY,, INGHAM COUNTY ANNOUNCEDRESTAURANTS ARE ALLOWED TOOPERATEAT 50-PERCENT CAPACITY... ORALLOW 1-HUNDRED-25 CUSTOMERS---WHICHEVER IS LESS.THIS RELAXES THE ORIGINALORDER-- THAT ONLY ALLOWED 75PEOPLE.THE NEW ORDER WILL CONTINUETHROUGH AUGUST FIRST