Online Alcohol Server Training Program Certified in Rhode Island

ARLINGTON, Va., June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Communications, Inc. (HCI)
today announced that eTIPS, an online training and certification program for
bartenders and servers of alcohol, was certified by Rhode Island's Department
of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals. In 2006, Rhode Island made
alcohol server training mandatory for all employees who serve alcohol, and
certified TIPS for On Premise classroom training from the beginning. The
review of the online program, eTIPS, took more time. The addition of eTIPS
will greatly expand the training options available for those who serve or sell
alcohol in Rhode Island. Immediate benefits include tools to reduce underage
drinking, intoxication, and drunk driving, as well as new flexibility in
extending such benefits to establishments large and small.

The eTIPS program addresses concerns specific to restaurants, hotels,
nightclubs, and other on-premise liquor license holders and is tailored to
apply to regulations unique to Rhode Island. In addition, eTIPS participants
are able to assess the needs of their clients from both the legal and
alcohol-related standpoint after viewing thought-provoking video clips. The
final section of the course challenges participants by forcing them to apply
intervention strategies learned from previous exercises. Participants take a
certification examination at the conclusion of the course.

The eTIPS course is a self-paced, innovative approach to alcohol server
training. It allows participants to obtain practical and valuable training
anywhere and at almost any time. Most importantly, this new tool will provide
Rhode Island businesses with reduced exposure to alcohol liability lawsuits,
lower insurance rates, and improved customer satisfaction. By means of video
streaming and top-shelf technology, the eTIPS user participates in a lively
and interactive experience.

The course, introduced to alcohol servers in 2005, has also exceeded
expectations for eLearning in general. eTIPS can be used on a wide range of
computers, and HCI is able to control the experience for students and address
problems directly. "I was concerned that we would lose the human element with
an eLearning course, but eTIPS makes servers assess and evaluate
alcohol-related situations they face every day. I was very pleased with the
level of interactivity and the human feel of the course," remarked Adam
Chafetz, President and CEO of Health Communications.

Health Communications, Inc. is the provider of the country's leading alcohol
server training program. Over the last 25 years HCI has certified 45,000
trainers and more than three million servers, sellers, and consumers worldwide
with the TIPS program. TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) is a
classroom-based training program that gives servers, sellers, and consumers of
alcohol the knowledge and confidence they need to recognize potential
alcohol-related problems and teach them to effectively intervene to prevent
alcohol-related tragedies. With the addition of eTIPS, that quality training
is now available both in the classroom and via the web. To learn more about
eTIPS, visit the http://www.gettips.com [TIPS] website.

Contact:

Trevor Estelle
703-524-1200 ext. 357
estellet@gettips.com

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SOURCE Health Communications, Inc.

Trevor Estelle of Health Communications, Inc., +1-703-524-1200, Ext. 357,
estellet@gettips.com