MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon Brewing Company received a plaque Friday for keeping bystanders safe while serving drinks and having good times.
The award comes from Mount Vernon’s DORA representatives, a designated outdoor refreshment area that was brought to Mount Vernon City Council in September 2021.
Mount Vernon Brewing Company staff, including owners Steve and Tina Ballantyne, participated in bystander safety training taught by Lindsey Lamp, Prevention Coordinator for New Directions, a domestic violence support center.
The two-hour training is titled “Keep Knox Safe.” It provides an alcohol server knowledge and bystander intervention training to help maintain safety. MVBC became DORA certified six months ago, Tina Ballantyne said.
Training includes knowing how bartenders can keep patrons safe, knowing when someone has had enough or even too much, and being aware of how alcohol consumption can increase the likelihood of risky behaviors.
The nanobrewery is the first to receive the award, Lamp said, though Flappers Bar and Grille and Stein Brewing Company have also completed the bystander training.
Knox County DORA events are the first in Ohio, possibly the nation to incorporate safety and prevention, Tina Cockrell, Director of Public Health Education and Nursing representing Knox Substance Abuse Action Team, said via email.
Cockrell added the plaque recognizes the company’s dedication to the safety of the community and their patrons by being the first establishment to ensure all staff are trained in Bystander Intervention — and have knowledge of the laws associated with serving alcohol.
MVBC first opened its doors July 2. It joins the list of breweries in Mount Vernon, offering a quaint space for patrons to try new beers and ciders.
Little knick-knacks can be seen along the covered walls, mostly made by local artists hoping to sell their work.
In a year of being open, the response has been amazing, Ballantyne said.
“We got a lot of regulars and word-of-mouth has been great.”
