The success of BBN relies on strong and positive partnerships, shared resources and consistent standards and goals throughout Alberta that work to:

• Reduce the risk of alcohol-related harm, disorder and crime.
• Establish a benchmark of good practice in licensed premises.
• Identify and reward responsible operators and share their good practices with others.
• Create consistent standards throughout Alberta that support the Gaming and Liquor Regulations, policies and best practices.
• Improve the knowledge and skills of enforcement and regulation agencies, licensees and bar staff in order to deal effectively with issues relating to the management of licensed premises.
• Understand how this can reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder, and minimize the harmful effects of binge drinking, while improving the profitability and appeal of businesses and the general area.
• Raise public awareness of the benefits of choosing to frequent well-run licensed premises, that are committed to the responsible sales and service of alcohol.
• Increase the public's sense of security and well-being, preventing the social discrimination and disruptions that can result from over-consumption.
• Create a program that alcohol-licensed premises can support and participate in; a partnership that provides business and community benefits.
• Improve the attractiveness and economic vitality of the participating businesses and area.

These goals can reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder, and minimize the harmful effects of binge drinking, prevent social discrimination and disruptions while improving the profitability and appeal of businesses and the general area.

1. Licensees obtain, complete and submit an application form and criteria checklist.
   The licensee will identify which category their premises falls within. The application form covers a wide range of issues that well-managed premises should be aware of and address. The criteria checklist provided is your working document to use.
2. A trained assessor will contact the licensee to arrange a mutually convenient appointment time to visit the premises and review the criteria checklist.
   The assessment is not a compliance inspection, but rather an opportunity for the assessor to verify the checklist and offer feedback and advice to the licensee. The assessor's visit lasts one to two hours. Assessments are based on the essential, desired and bonus criteria.
3. The assessment will be scored.
   If all of the essential criteria are met, the premises will receive BBN accreditation. This will allow the premises to display certification signage throughout their premises and in their advertising materials.
4. Application forms are ranked in order of scores.
   The licensees with the highest score and second highest score in each category are awarded the distinction of 'BEST' and 'RUNNER-UP.'
5. The assessment paperwork for the best of each category will be put before a judging panel, who will decide the winner of the 'BEST OVERALL' distinction.
6. The award process culminates with an awards event.

• Establishes a benchmark of good practice by supporting a positive relationship for all stakeholders in the operation and enforcement of licensed premises to work in partnership.
• Raises public awareness of the benefits of choosing to frequent well-run licensed premises, that are committed to the responsible sale and service of alcohol.
• Increases the public's sense of security and well-being, preventing the social discrimination and disruptions that can result from over-consumption.
• Identifies, rewards and publicizes responsible operators, who share their good practices with the community and promote their venues and business areas to potential customers.
• The display of BBN signage sets accredited premises apart from non-accredited premises and identifies the licensees as responsible operators who value their patrons and want to provide a safe night out.
• Accredited premises will receive signage for public display and may include the BBN logo in their promotional advertising.
• The possibility of winning a "Best," "Runner-Up" or "Overall Winner" award in competition with other premises further distinguishes an establishment.

• Operating responsibly can improve the profitability of your business and the appeal of a general area, attracting more customers and building patron loyalty.
• If there are a number of licensees in a community participating in BBN then patrons will be attracted to the business area and to those venues.

• Improved employee morale: With higher standards and fewer problems, BBN accredited premises may become known as good places to work, attracting and retaining like-minded staff.

• A reduction in the risk of alcohol-related harm, disorder and crime and the associated costs that your premises could face in relation to each issue.
• The opportunity for your licensed premises to review your health, safety and crime prevention strategies as part of your application/accreditation checklist.

A well-run establishment has fewer problems. This translates to potential long-term savings on insurance-related expenses, including:

• Deductibles (with deductibles of $2500 or $5000 for any occurrence)
• Increased premiums
• Self-insured/Uninsured Losses
• Availability of insurance
• Investigation Time - owners' time spent with adjusters/lawyers
• Overtime and Down-time - staff meeting with adjusters/lawyers
• Loss in income, wages not compensated
• Clerical time
• Negative public image, loss of branding
• Legal fees
• Reduced employee morale
• Potential WCB claim if staff member is injured

• Will be able to easily find premises that are identified as well managed, safe establishments that value providing an entertaining, quality night out for their patrons.
• Reduced risk of exposure to alcohol-related harm, disorder and crime within the premises and in the surrounding community.

• A reduction in alcohol-related harm, disorder and crime may improve the attractiveness and economic vitality of the community.
• BBN is a showcase to the public of licensed premises that value the opportunity to provide the public with a safe night out, proving their businesses to be quality venues, serious about customer care and safety.
• BBN provides a consistency of standards that support the Gaming and Liquor Regulations and policies and best practices.

The BBN Awards were developed in the United Kingdom (UK) by the Greater Manchester Police and City Safe, to address alcohol-related crime. Results of a 2001 British Crime Survey showed that a significantly high proportion of crime was directly or indirectly related to licensed premises with poor management standards.

Work began on the BBN program in Manchester in late 2001, when extensive discussions were held with various stakeholders in the alcohol industry. They wanted to devise a way of setting a minimum standard of operation for pubs and clubs in the UK. The objective was to provide an incentive for the operators of licensed premises to improve their operating standards to a consistent national benchmark.

In their discussions they found that licensees did not understand exactly they needed to do in order to reduce crime and improve safety. There was no benchmark of good practices to measure premises against and no forum to encourage and educate. The long term impact of enforcement activity was greatly increased if it was combined with a constructive and educational system of accreditation and action planning.

BBN was piloted in Manchester, UK in 2003. In 2009, there were over 95 separate programs operating in the UK reporting significant reductions in alcohol-related harms as well as greater operational effectiveness of licensees, enhanced stakeholder collaboration, shifting mindset and attitudes towards alcohol consumption and reports of greater patron safety.

In 2008, the AGLC formed the Alberta Safer Bars Council (ASBC), comprised of knowledgeable and experienced individuals representing a diverse group of industry stakeholders, including licensees.

The ASBC consists of 18 organizations with a total of 30 individual stakeholders from across Alberta and includes:

The Council acts as a provincial advisory and provides input towards policy development and the implementation of operator and regulatory best practices, to help reduce the number of violent incidents in and around licensed premises. The ASBC reviewed the UK's BBN program and it was found that the program met roughly two thirds of the ninety-two recommendations for best practices put forth by the roundtable discussions.

Representatives from the ASBC contacted the BBN UK National Project Administrator and in late 2008, the BBN UK National Board consented to the AGLC's use of the BBN program. This was followed by the approval of the AGLC's Board to move forward with BBN. In January 2009, the ASBC endorsed BBN for implementation in Alberta, with Edmonton identified as the program pilot location.